What do you think?
Rate this book
Good to Know #1
Good to Know
Jerry McKenzie is a reclusive and antisocial artist, quite content to ride his horses and work in his studio, keeping to himself. It's not any kind of life for a child, and when Jerry finds out he’s been named his orphaned nephew’s guardian, he panics. He doesn't know what to do with a child and isn't sure he can give William the affection and the love the boy so desperately needs.
Then Jerry meets David Loewenberger, the new teacher William becomes immediately attached to, and he starts to see how they could make a family together: a family to replace the one William lost, a family David had given up on ever finding... a family Jerry never knew he wanted.
Then Jerry meets David Loewenberger, the new teacher William becomes immediately attached to, and he starts to see how they could make a family together: a family to replace the one William lost, a family David had given up on ever finding... a family Jerry never knew he wanted.
230 pages, ebook
First published October 8, 2009
About the author
D.W. Marchwell
21 books185 followersWhen D. W. Marchwell is not teaching future generations the wonders of science, he can usually be found hiking, writing, riding horses, trying new recipes, or searching for and lovingly restoring discarded antique furniture. A goofy and incurable romantic, D.W. admits that his stories are inspired by actual events and has a soft spot for those where boy not only meets boy but also turns out to be boy's soul mate. After almost fifteen years of working his way across Canada, D.W has finally found the perfect place to live at the foot of the Canadian Rockies. He still can't believe how lucky he is, and, as his grandmother taught him, counts his blessings every day.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
November 6, 2011
I liked this book. Didn't love it, but it was good. I really LOVED the fact that the H/H were both over 40. As an over 40 person, it was refreshing to have characters that were not young enough to be my children! Thanks to DW for acknowledging that middle aged people can find love, too.
June 11, 2012
I read this for a GR challenge and let's just say it was a challenge to get through. The basic story itself was interesting but in the end, Good to Know tries too hard. The premise: two men find each other due to their concern for an orphaned little boy, they fall in love and build a family together. How could you not like that, right? Well, the love is a little too instant and the author pours on too much saccharine sweetness with constant pet names - baby, cowboy, mountain lion (yes, mountain lion) -- and lots of crying, sobbing, stopping up tears, wiping cheeks, leaking onto t-shirts, eyes brimming over, weeping. Now I like a skillfully used pet name just as much as anyone and a man crying is ok too...occasionally. Not every other page. Is this Good to Know? Yes, it is.
August 7, 2012
I was about to give 4-5* when everything fell apart with this book. This has one of my no-no things, and in this book it comes in a colossal way.
It's good to know that I don't need to buy the sequel.
It's good to know that I don't need to buy the sequel.
May 18, 2019
3.6 Stars
Good story, if a little slow to build, and I appreciated having "older" MCs (40+). As sometimes happens, the kid seemed way too precocious while at other times acted his age.
Having just visited this area of Canada (over the summer) I was better able to visualize the setting...and made me miss it more than a bit. (All those Canadian National Parks within a day's drive of Toronto are a MUST SEE and I'm definitely gonna try to get back there.)
I do have to admit that Sean Crisden's narration wasn't as memorable as I'm used to from him. I do recall that had I not "read" this via audio I probably would have just put it away for a future challenge, but I had to look up who performed it and that's a bad sign. (He's still a top 5 so no worries.)
Good story, if a little slow to build, and I appreciated having "older" MCs (40+). As sometimes happens, the kid seemed way too precocious while at other times acted his age.
Having just visited this area of Canada (over the summer) I was better able to visualize the setting...and made me miss it more than a bit. (All those Canadian National Parks within a day's drive of Toronto are a MUST SEE and I'm definitely gonna try to get back there.)
I do have to admit that Sean Crisden's narration wasn't as memorable as I'm used to from him. I do recall that had I not "read" this via audio I probably would have just put it away for a future challenge, but I had to look up who performed it and that's a bad sign. (He's still a top 5 so no worries.)
February 21, 2013
Wow this was a disappointment, I was looking for some warm fuzzies, and got whine, whine, whine.
This book was too cookie cutter, too perfect, and just meh for story.
No thanks especially for what the publishers are asking for it.
This book was too cookie cutter, too perfect, and just meh for story.
No thanks especially for what the publishers are asking for it.
January 24, 2011
I really enjoyed this book, though it had some problems (more on that later). I found the characters compelling. We really get to know David and Jerry in this book, and largely, the meat of the plot is devoted to them — their struggles, their fears, and each trying to do the right thing by William, whom they are both starting to love as a son. Though it tends to lead to a lot of angst, I really enjoy when the two characters get into it with each other, by which I mean that they actually work through their problems on the page, in the scene, with dialogue and actions. So many authors seem to gloss over this part of the plot and then explain it later with exposition. DW Marchwell did not do that here, which means that we got to see the gritty emotions that David had trying to figure out how to do right by his students, Jerry, and William, and we got to see how Jerry reacted to that. It did make the story somewhat angsty, but no more than I could handle and it was never overindulgent. I found William to be incredibly sweet and sad. I felt for him so much — how confused he was, and how scared. The first chapter is written from his point of view as he finds out about his parents dying. He wonders why he isn’t crying, because he knows he’s supposed to when people say things like that. I was sad that we never entered his POV after that and a bit confused why we did in the first place if we were never to revisit it. Also, as the story progressed, William drifted out of the picture a lot. He was always there, in the background, but other than one event, which ultimately didn’t seem to bother him much at all, the book never addresses his difficulty in acclimating to his new life. It seemed a little too perfect to me that he would not have any problems with his new life. There is a sequel to this story, though, which I know starts only a few months after the ending of this novel, so that might be something we visit in An Earlier Heaven.
For the full review, visit Reviews by Jessewave.
For the full review, visit Reviews by Jessewave.
December 5, 2009
I found this story via a link for a guest blog at Book Wenches; I don't remember where but but I'm very grateful that I did. D.W. Marchwell's blog really struck me; his memories, his writing, the story, all of it said to me "Get this book... now!" So I did.
I literally have hundreds of books to be read; over 500 print and probably a similar number in eformat, but I knew that I had to read Good to Know right away. It was one of those that spoke to me before I even knew much about it... and I've learned to not ignore anything that speaks to me.
Meeting, first, young William really set the emotional tone of the story; my heart went out to this boy whose world has just fallen apart.
At first glance the man who is William's only remaining family, Jerry McKenzie, appears to be self-centered and heartless. But, like all snap judgements, first impressions are not the whole truth. What truly shows the measure of a man are his actions, not his words. And so it proves out in this case.
Lastly, David Loewenberger is introduced as William's prospective teacher. Here's a man whose heart has been trampled on and disregarded, yet when it comes to the children that he teaches, he's a wonder.
Three people who, unknowingly, need each other. The journey they undertake isn't always easy, nor even, at times, very pleasant. But it is a story that will stick with me and one that I will go back to again and again. It's real and it has heart and Mr. Marchwell has conquered my reader's heart.
I literally have hundreds of books to be read; over 500 print and probably a similar number in eformat, but I knew that I had to read Good to Know right away. It was one of those that spoke to me before I even knew much about it... and I've learned to not ignore anything that speaks to me.
Meeting, first, young William really set the emotional tone of the story; my heart went out to this boy whose world has just fallen apart.
At first glance the man who is William's only remaining family, Jerry McKenzie, appears to be self-centered and heartless. But, like all snap judgements, first impressions are not the whole truth. What truly shows the measure of a man are his actions, not his words. And so it proves out in this case.
Lastly, David Loewenberger is introduced as William's prospective teacher. Here's a man whose heart has been trampled on and disregarded, yet when it comes to the children that he teaches, he's a wonder.
Three people who, unknowingly, need each other. The journey they undertake isn't always easy, nor even, at times, very pleasant. But it is a story that will stick with me and one that I will go back to again and again. It's real and it has heart and Mr. Marchwell has conquered my reader's heart.
January 30, 2011
**4.5 upped to 5**
I loved this sweet story set practically in my backyard. It was obviously sweet but also had a lot of angst and fear and love. Two men in their 40s looking for that someone special, maybe even having given up the search, find each other because of an adorable, orphaned boy. The relationship wasn't easy - up, down, shake it all around, but in the end it was absolutely perfect.
Jerry, so gruff and unmoving in the beginning, turned into the most romantic, caring man - qualities I don't think he even knew he had. David comes across sort of fearful and standishoffish with Jerry, and the passion and dominance he shows later on, is both surprising and exciting. They may have fallen into love a little quick, but in my mind, their ages and the sweet little man they both adore had a lot to do with it.
Fave part of the book hands-down was when Jerry gave David the painting he'd done for him, then showed him the other 2 that went along with it. My heart just froze then melted. Great scene.
The only thing missing for me was a little bit of insight into what William was thinking but I've heard the next book in the series will clear that up for me. Thanks, DW, for writing such an inspiring and lovely book.
I loved this sweet story set practically in my backyard. It was obviously sweet but also had a lot of angst and fear and love. Two men in their 40s looking for that someone special, maybe even having given up the search, find each other because of an adorable, orphaned boy. The relationship wasn't easy - up, down, shake it all around, but in the end it was absolutely perfect.
Jerry, so gruff and unmoving in the beginning, turned into the most romantic, caring man - qualities I don't think he even knew he had. David comes across sort of fearful and standishoffish with Jerry, and the passion and dominance he shows later on, is both surprising and exciting. They may have fallen into love a little quick, but in my mind, their ages and the sweet little man they both adore had a lot to do with it.
Fave part of the book hands-down was when Jerry gave David the painting he'd done for him, then showed him the other 2 that went along with it. My heart just froze then melted. Great scene.
The only thing missing for me was a little bit of insight into what William was thinking but I've heard the next book in the series will clear that up for me. Thanks, DW, for writing such an inspiring and lovely book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2013
3.5
I enjoyed this story, although probably not as much on a second reading.
William is adorable, and had my heart breaking a few times.
David was almost perfect, but I found his crying so much a bit off putting.
Jerry was more Cowboy than artist, but a good guy once he “Cowboy’d Up” lol.
The story of William coming to live with Jerry, and David’s subsequent involvement, was heart warming and sweet. But for me it was slightly spoiled with over done sex scenes.
I’d also of liked to of seen a little more closure on the school drama, instead of just having it summed up in David’s thoughts.
Overall an enjoyable read, just a few personal niggles for me to stop it being a full 4 stars.
I enjoyed this story, although probably not as much on a second reading.
William is adorable, and had my heart breaking a few times.
David was almost perfect, but I found his crying so much a bit off putting.
Jerry was more Cowboy than artist, but a good guy once he “Cowboy’d Up” lol.
The story of William coming to live with Jerry, and David’s subsequent involvement, was heart warming and sweet. But for me it was slightly spoiled with over done sex scenes.
I’d also of liked to of seen a little more closure on the school drama, instead of just having it summed up in David’s thoughts.
Overall an enjoyable read, just a few personal niggles for me to stop it being a full 4 stars.
May 31, 2012
I had to re-read this one since I'll be starting the sequel tonight or tomorrow and I wanted to be all up to date. And I loved reading it the second time as much as the first. I really enjoy DW Marchwell's stories and I'm looking forward to reading 'An Earlier Heaven'.
February 14, 2018
Darum geht’s:
William ist erst 10 Jahre alt, als seine Eltern ums Leben kommen und sich herausstellt, dass er vorübergehend zu einem Cousin seiner Mutter soll, den er noch nie gesehen hat. Jerry McKenzie geht auf die 50 zu, ist erfolgreicher Künstler und hat keine Lust auf Kinder. Eigentlich hat er vor, William so schnell wie möglich wieder loszuwerden, doch dann kommt Williams künftiger Lehrer David ins Spiel, den auch Jerry gerne näher kennenlernen würde. Und schneller als es Jerry lieb ist, wächst ihm William ans Herz.
So fand ich’s:
Als die beiden Männer David und Jerry zusammenkommen, war ich fast ein bisschen überrascht, weil es sehr plötzlich ging. Eigentlich haben sie beschlossen, es bei einer lockeren Affäre zu lassen, und die auch noch geheim zu halten, um William nicht noch mehr zu verletzen, falls es mit ihnen nicht klappt. Doch noch vor dem ersten Kuss sind die beiden vertraut wie ein altes Ehepaar, was sich für mich nicht wirklich realistisch anfühlte, zumal beide schon über 40 sind. Jerry ist eigentlich nicht bereit, seinen Lebensstil zu ändern und David hat wiederholt schlechte Erfahrungen gemacht. Dass sie sich dann beide kopfüber in eine hochemotionale Beziehung stürzen, fühlte sich für mich ein bisschen schräg an.
Sie benehmen sich wie Teenager, nicht nur was ihre Beziehung angeht. Sie sind unüberlegt, stur, impulsiv und treffen zielsicher immer die falsche Entscheidung. Das verursacht jede Memge Drama, das sich aber auch schnell wieder auflöst, weil das meiste davon einfach hausgemacht ist. Mehr als einmal habe ich die Augen gerollt und musste den Kopf schütteln.
Was mir wirklich gut gefallen hat ist der Junge, William, denn er taut auf und fasst Vertrauen, nachdem er am Anfang des Buches als hilfloser, alleingelassener Junge herüberkam, der verzweifelt versucht, keine Last zu sein. Wie er kindlichen Spaß am Leben wiedergewinnt, fand ich wundervoll zu lesen.
Den Erzählton fand ich manchmal zu zuckrig, aber im Großen und Ganzen schön zu lesen. Weil mir weder Jerry noch David wirklich nahe kamen, fand ich das Buch zwar okay und habe es auch gern gelesen, besonders nachhaltig berührt hat es mich aber nicht.
William ist erst 10 Jahre alt, als seine Eltern ums Leben kommen und sich herausstellt, dass er vorübergehend zu einem Cousin seiner Mutter soll, den er noch nie gesehen hat. Jerry McKenzie geht auf die 50 zu, ist erfolgreicher Künstler und hat keine Lust auf Kinder. Eigentlich hat er vor, William so schnell wie möglich wieder loszuwerden, doch dann kommt Williams künftiger Lehrer David ins Spiel, den auch Jerry gerne näher kennenlernen würde. Und schneller als es Jerry lieb ist, wächst ihm William ans Herz.
So fand ich’s:
Als die beiden Männer David und Jerry zusammenkommen, war ich fast ein bisschen überrascht, weil es sehr plötzlich ging. Eigentlich haben sie beschlossen, es bei einer lockeren Affäre zu lassen, und die auch noch geheim zu halten, um William nicht noch mehr zu verletzen, falls es mit ihnen nicht klappt. Doch noch vor dem ersten Kuss sind die beiden vertraut wie ein altes Ehepaar, was sich für mich nicht wirklich realistisch anfühlte, zumal beide schon über 40 sind. Jerry ist eigentlich nicht bereit, seinen Lebensstil zu ändern und David hat wiederholt schlechte Erfahrungen gemacht. Dass sie sich dann beide kopfüber in eine hochemotionale Beziehung stürzen, fühlte sich für mich ein bisschen schräg an.
Sie benehmen sich wie Teenager, nicht nur was ihre Beziehung angeht. Sie sind unüberlegt, stur, impulsiv und treffen zielsicher immer die falsche Entscheidung. Das verursacht jede Memge Drama, das sich aber auch schnell wieder auflöst, weil das meiste davon einfach hausgemacht ist. Mehr als einmal habe ich die Augen gerollt und musste den Kopf schütteln.
Was mir wirklich gut gefallen hat ist der Junge, William, denn er taut auf und fasst Vertrauen, nachdem er am Anfang des Buches als hilfloser, alleingelassener Junge herüberkam, der verzweifelt versucht, keine Last zu sein. Wie er kindlichen Spaß am Leben wiedergewinnt, fand ich wundervoll zu lesen.
Den Erzählton fand ich manchmal zu zuckrig, aber im Großen und Ganzen schön zu lesen. Weil mir weder Jerry noch David wirklich nahe kamen, fand ich das Buch zwar okay und habe es auch gern gelesen, besonders nachhaltig berührt hat es mich aber nicht.
February 26, 2016
Come reagireste se la vostra consolidata routine venisse stravolta, di punto in bianco, da un adorabile bambino che vi viene affidato?
Ecco, Jerry McKenzie non ha reagito nel migliore dei modi, ma come si può biasimarlo?
È un uomo quasi cinquantenne, un affermato e ricco artista, che non ama la confusione e la vita di città e che, pur desiderandola, non riesce a creare una relazione amorosa. Per questo si accontenta di rapporti senza impegno, giusto per sfogare lo stress, e si è rifugiato in un bel ranch fuori città, dove dipinge nella quiete, circondato dalla natura e dai suoi amati cavalli e non gli importa se può sembrare un po’ misantropo.
Certamente Jerry non si aspetta di vedersi recapitare in casa il figlio di una lontana cugina – di cui, peraltro, non aveva neppure molta stima –, sentendosi dire che è il suo unico parente in vita.
Jerry non vuole questa responsabilità e la rifiuta categoricamente. Il compromesso raggiunto è ospitare il bambino per qualche tempo, in attesa di un’altra destinazione definitiva.
Ma fin da subito Jerry non ha barriere per difendersi da quel ragazzino solo, spaventato, rassegnato, che è stato segregato in un collego svizzero, anni addietro, da genitori che non lo hanno mai amato né voluto.
William è dolce, ubbidiente, timido e buono e, soprattutto, affamato dell’amore che non ha mai avuto e il suo entusiasmo vince le resistenze di Jerry, anche se l’uomo non ha idea di come si faccia il genitore e procede a tentoni.
Nell’equazione entra David, il maestro che si occuperà di William fino alla conclusione dell’anno scolastico, prima del passaggio alle scuole medie.
David è un ottimo insegnante, sensibile e dedito al suo lavoro e, fin dal primo incontro, crea con Will un legame speciale. L’attrazione che invece sente per suo zio potrebbe essere un problema, tanto più che David è appena uscito da una relazione disastrosa.
Jerry non fa mistero di ciò che sente per l’uomo e i due concordano nel regalarsi qualche momento di intimità senza impegno e, soprattutto, senza che William ne sia turbato.
Questi incontri clandestini ci offrono un sacco di momenti molto, molto hot e altrettanto dolci. Eppure, quello che è iniziato come un accordo di ‘amici con benefici’ diventa presto qualcos’altro, perché entrano in campo sentimenti che destabilizzano i loro patti. Jerry vorrebbe che David diventasse una famiglia con lui e Will, ma teme di farlo scappare.
David, dal canto suo, sente un profondo attaccamento per zio e nipote, ma ci sono diversi ostacoli, non da ultimo un potenziale conflitto di interessi fra il suo lavoro e una relazione con il tutore di un alunno.
A frantumare la sua felicità ci pensa un personaggio meschino, omofobo e bigotto che lo costringe a fare delle scelte dolorose come insegnante e come uomo, e forse David prende le decisioni sbagliate…
Come faranno i nostri protagonisti a raggiungere l’agognata felicità?
‘Buono a sapersi’ è una frase che viene continuamente ripetuta durante la storia, dei momenti più disparati. È una sorta di leitmotiv che segna gli attimi in cui i personaggi si conoscono sempre un pochino di più e fanno tesoro di questo.
La storia è una commedia romantica e forse un po’ zuccherosa, per i miei canoni. Una di quelle letture senza attività adrenaliniche, che può regalare qualche ora di piacevole intrattenimento.
I personaggi sono bene caratterizzati, in linea generale. Devo ammettere che mi piace trovare ‘uomini tutto d’un pezzo’ che però non si vergognano di mostrare i propri sentimenti, soprattutto se sono lacrime. Qui diciamo che, forse, si abbonda un po’.
Se devo muovere una critica, per mio gusto personale mi ha un po’ infastidito il continuo inserimento di frasi francesi e tedesche, soprattutto quando non erano tradotte o spiegate subito dopo. Mi sono sembrate un po’ eccessive, ecco.
La storia, però, rimane comunque gradevole e ne consiglio la lettura.
Ecco, Jerry McKenzie non ha reagito nel migliore dei modi, ma come si può biasimarlo?
È un uomo quasi cinquantenne, un affermato e ricco artista, che non ama la confusione e la vita di città e che, pur desiderandola, non riesce a creare una relazione amorosa. Per questo si accontenta di rapporti senza impegno, giusto per sfogare lo stress, e si è rifugiato in un bel ranch fuori città, dove dipinge nella quiete, circondato dalla natura e dai suoi amati cavalli e non gli importa se può sembrare un po’ misantropo.
Certamente Jerry non si aspetta di vedersi recapitare in casa il figlio di una lontana cugina – di cui, peraltro, non aveva neppure molta stima –, sentendosi dire che è il suo unico parente in vita.
Jerry non vuole questa responsabilità e la rifiuta categoricamente. Il compromesso raggiunto è ospitare il bambino per qualche tempo, in attesa di un’altra destinazione definitiva.
Ma fin da subito Jerry non ha barriere per difendersi da quel ragazzino solo, spaventato, rassegnato, che è stato segregato in un collego svizzero, anni addietro, da genitori che non lo hanno mai amato né voluto.
William è dolce, ubbidiente, timido e buono e, soprattutto, affamato dell’amore che non ha mai avuto e il suo entusiasmo vince le resistenze di Jerry, anche se l’uomo non ha idea di come si faccia il genitore e procede a tentoni.
Nell’equazione entra David, il maestro che si occuperà di William fino alla conclusione dell’anno scolastico, prima del passaggio alle scuole medie.
David è un ottimo insegnante, sensibile e dedito al suo lavoro e, fin dal primo incontro, crea con Will un legame speciale. L’attrazione che invece sente per suo zio potrebbe essere un problema, tanto più che David è appena uscito da una relazione disastrosa.
Jerry non fa mistero di ciò che sente per l’uomo e i due concordano nel regalarsi qualche momento di intimità senza impegno e, soprattutto, senza che William ne sia turbato.
Questi incontri clandestini ci offrono un sacco di momenti molto, molto hot e altrettanto dolci. Eppure, quello che è iniziato come un accordo di ‘amici con benefici’ diventa presto qualcos’altro, perché entrano in campo sentimenti che destabilizzano i loro patti. Jerry vorrebbe che David diventasse una famiglia con lui e Will, ma teme di farlo scappare.
David, dal canto suo, sente un profondo attaccamento per zio e nipote, ma ci sono diversi ostacoli, non da ultimo un potenziale conflitto di interessi fra il suo lavoro e una relazione con il tutore di un alunno.
A frantumare la sua felicità ci pensa un personaggio meschino, omofobo e bigotto che lo costringe a fare delle scelte dolorose come insegnante e come uomo, e forse David prende le decisioni sbagliate…
Come faranno i nostri protagonisti a raggiungere l’agognata felicità?
‘Buono a sapersi’ è una frase che viene continuamente ripetuta durante la storia, dei momenti più disparati. È una sorta di leitmotiv che segna gli attimi in cui i personaggi si conoscono sempre un pochino di più e fanno tesoro di questo.
La storia è una commedia romantica e forse un po’ zuccherosa, per i miei canoni. Una di quelle letture senza attività adrenaliniche, che può regalare qualche ora di piacevole intrattenimento.
I personaggi sono bene caratterizzati, in linea generale. Devo ammettere che mi piace trovare ‘uomini tutto d’un pezzo’ che però non si vergognano di mostrare i propri sentimenti, soprattutto se sono lacrime. Qui diciamo che, forse, si abbonda un po’.
Se devo muovere una critica, per mio gusto personale mi ha un po’ infastidito il continuo inserimento di frasi francesi e tedesche, soprattutto quando non erano tradotte o spiegate subito dopo. Mi sono sembrate un po’ eccessive, ecco.
La storia, però, rimane comunque gradevole e ne consiglio la lettura.
May 20, 2012
Do you want to know how I'm feeling after reading this book?
Look at this image:
Are you now feeling warm and fuzzy?
THAT'S IT! The feeling this book will give you! Why?
The blurb is very self explanatory, but let me add some more to try to convince you to give this book a try.
William, a 10 years old orphan, will be took out from the only world he know... from a privative expensive school to a person he never saw, and never heard about.
Jerry is almost 50 years old. He is an artist and, sad I know, absolutely convinced his lonely life is perfect as it is. He will have to accept a 10 years old boy, against his will, and well... cowboy up.
David, 42 years old, is a French teach worried by a new arrival. The new student's file catch his attention and he decide to visit both, the kid and his legal guardian not knowing that day will change the life of all 3.
The writing is unique and I love it. It's not the first time I read a book with multiple (also in the same paragraph) point of views. Up to now I never thought someone could write as Isabelle Rowan, changing constantly POV without confuse me. D.W. Marchell did it, and it was a superb writing. Reading this story you will have a deep immersion in all characters minds. I know you may think it's confusing or distracting but believe me, when it is done perfectly (as in this case) it can give the reader such a amazing new experience. It's wonderful, know all the thoughts, and feel like you are part of each of them. I love the writing, and it help me a lot, to know William, David and Jerry.
The warm and fuzzy feeling
[image error]
will stay with raeding each page. A lonely gay man with a sad 10 years old boy. An emotional mess professor with the desire to succumb and love someone, but fearing lose his job, and damage also a kid in the process. Terrific love story! You can't know, if Jerry will finally decide to keep the boy and treat him as his son... if William will feel wanted and loved by someone for the first time in his young life... if David will decide to let his guard down, and be vulnerable again, accepting Jerry's love.
There is funny moments, angst, drama, all in the right amount. It's a rollercoaster of emotions, and I LOVE IT
Just another quick comment must go to the erotic content of this story. The sex scenes are very explicit, but in my view perfect. To show how can a "fuck buddies" situation can evolve to a deep and sweet love story.
Last remarks is about the unique plot, with two main characters above 40. Jerry indeed is almost 50, so yeah, it's about two mature man, that can still love and desire to find they soul mate. Because love don't have boundaries, and certainly can be unexpected and unwanted... can be overwhelming.
5 stars
Look at this image:
Are you now feeling warm and fuzzy?
THAT'S IT! The feeling this book will give you! Why?
The blurb is very self explanatory, but let me add some more to try to convince you to give this book a try.
William, a 10 years old orphan, will be took out from the only world he know... from a privative expensive school to a person he never saw, and never heard about.
Jerry is almost 50 years old. He is an artist and, sad I know, absolutely convinced his lonely life is perfect as it is. He will have to accept a 10 years old boy, against his will, and well... cowboy up.
David, 42 years old, is a French teach worried by a new arrival. The new student's file catch his attention and he decide to visit both, the kid and his legal guardian not knowing that day will change the life of all 3.
The writing is unique and I love it. It's not the first time I read a book with multiple (also in the same paragraph) point of views. Up to now I never thought someone could write as Isabelle Rowan, changing constantly POV without confuse me. D.W. Marchell did it, and it was a superb writing. Reading this story you will have a deep immersion in all characters minds. I know you may think it's confusing or distracting but believe me, when it is done perfectly (as in this case) it can give the reader such a amazing new experience. It's wonderful, know all the thoughts, and feel like you are part of each of them. I love the writing, and it help me a lot, to know William, David and Jerry.
The warm and fuzzy feeling
[image error]
will stay with raeding each page. A lonely gay man with a sad 10 years old boy. An emotional mess professor with the desire to succumb and love someone, but fearing lose his job, and damage also a kid in the process. Terrific love story! You can't know, if Jerry will finally decide to keep the boy and treat him as his son... if William will feel wanted and loved by someone for the first time in his young life... if David will decide to let his guard down, and be vulnerable again, accepting Jerry's love.
There is funny moments, angst, drama, all in the right amount. It's a rollercoaster of emotions, and I LOVE IT
Just another quick comment must go to the erotic content of this story. The sex scenes are very explicit, but in my view perfect. To show how can a "fuck buddies" situation can evolve to a deep and sweet love story.
Last remarks is about the unique plot, with two main characters above 40. Jerry indeed is almost 50, so yeah, it's about two mature man, that can still love and desire to find they soul mate. Because love don't have boundaries, and certainly can be unexpected and unwanted... can be overwhelming.
5 stars
January 16, 2010
For Eyre:
It is obvious that you have put much thought and analysis into your review of this novel, but – with all respect due – I am glad that I bought this book anyway.
For me this novel is about learning to be true to oneself. The story revolves around two men fighting to find their ways toward making a home for a boy who has never known one; it is a tale that begins with three hurt and damaged souls and ends with each one of them learning that it is acceptable to be less than perfect, that each of them can still deserve a place of love and forgiveness.
David is far from perfect; he is arrogant, defensive and combative when he feels backed into a corner or when he feels that his perfect-to-all-who-see-it world is menaced. He was fortunate enough to be born of a rich family, but unfortunate enough to be tossed aside when his homosexuality was an embarrassment to his parents. I don’t know why, but I get the feeling that David never dealt, successfully anyway, with that rejection. It is no wonder to me then that he lashes out very inappropriately against his principal and against Bennett. Having worked as a teacher for over 30 years, I would have counseled David to go directly to his union rep, but then there wouldn’t have been a story in that.
Jerry, on the other hand, has found happiness and peace as an exile from society – or at least what he thinks is happiness and peace. I don’t see his turnaround as too quick or too soon; I see it as long overdue. I think Jerry’s transformation had been so near the surface for so long that William’s arrival was the catalyst that finally gave him a ‘reason’ to let go of the loneliness and the failing desire to cling to the life he’d always assumed he’d wanted. And when he meets David, a man who can not only help him learn how to be a father-figure to William, but also put an end to his anonymous sexual encounters, he finds himself reaching for something he’d never been able to admit to himself that he wanted – a family.
(And my personal observations...we don’t see Kitty again because we don’t need to...David isn’t ‘mean’ towards his principal, he’s acting like a man who feels unsupported and under-appreciated...This book is not an easy read – it’s a very cerebral read with flawed characters and delicate situations that Mr. Marchwell handles with great care and élan...and the ending? Ca vaut la peine - so worth it)
It is obvious that you have put much thought and analysis into your review of this novel, but – with all respect due – I am glad that I bought this book anyway.
For me this novel is about learning to be true to oneself. The story revolves around two men fighting to find their ways toward making a home for a boy who has never known one; it is a tale that begins with three hurt and damaged souls and ends with each one of them learning that it is acceptable to be less than perfect, that each of them can still deserve a place of love and forgiveness.
David is far from perfect; he is arrogant, defensive and combative when he feels backed into a corner or when he feels that his perfect-to-all-who-see-it world is menaced. He was fortunate enough to be born of a rich family, but unfortunate enough to be tossed aside when his homosexuality was an embarrassment to his parents. I don’t know why, but I get the feeling that David never dealt, successfully anyway, with that rejection. It is no wonder to me then that he lashes out very inappropriately against his principal and against Bennett. Having worked as a teacher for over 30 years, I would have counseled David to go directly to his union rep, but then there wouldn’t have been a story in that.
Jerry, on the other hand, has found happiness and peace as an exile from society – or at least what he thinks is happiness and peace. I don’t see his turnaround as too quick or too soon; I see it as long overdue. I think Jerry’s transformation had been so near the surface for so long that William’s arrival was the catalyst that finally gave him a ‘reason’ to let go of the loneliness and the failing desire to cling to the life he’d always assumed he’d wanted. And when he meets David, a man who can not only help him learn how to be a father-figure to William, but also put an end to his anonymous sexual encounters, he finds himself reaching for something he’d never been able to admit to himself that he wanted – a family.
(And my personal observations...we don’t see Kitty again because we don’t need to...David isn’t ‘mean’ towards his principal, he’s acting like a man who feels unsupported and under-appreciated...This book is not an easy read – it’s a very cerebral read with flawed characters and delicate situations that Mr. Marchwell handles with great care and élan...and the ending? Ca vaut la peine - so worth it)
August 2, 2021
Entertaining enough. Cute, Hallmark type story but with sexy times.
Read
January 1, 2010Good to Know is a classical romance, also a bit old fashioned. Lonely and grumpy artist living in a isolated ranch finds himself guardian of a 10 years old orphan; lonely and tender-hearted teacher thinks to march arms in hand to the rescue of a little boy to then fall in love for the guardian. It’s probably the most classic love-story, what made it special was that both main characters are, for once, well past their young age: Jerry, the artist, is nearly 50 years old, and David, the teacher, is past 40 years old.
It’s quite obvious for everyone, reader, friends and family, that David and Jerry are fated to be together and to raise William in a loving family; the problem is for them to understand it. This is basically a romance, there are little obstacles for them to overcome, and probably it helps a lot that both of them are wealthy and independent men, working low salary jobs only for pleasure and not for necessity. There is also little doubt that Jerry will be William’s guardian, even if he is openly gay, Jerry is also the only living relative of the kid, and if you look to the cynical side of it, being also a wealthy man makes things even easier.
So no, the right of the two men to have William with them was never questioned, the little trouble they had was due to the fact that, even if in the more permissive Canada, they were having a homosexual relationship in front of an “impressionable” kid. This is the only trouble and angst element of the entire book, and to know how they dealt with it, I will let you read the story. A story that, unexpectedly, was pretty sexy.
I said unexpectedly since usually more the characters are older, less they seem interested in sex. And instead here sex was up front and probably the first thing that bonded David and Jerry. Jerry is basically a don juan; maybe now he is almost retired, but when he sees a man, an attractive man, the first thing in his mind is, bed him and then talk, and maybe you can even skip the talk part. So when he is faced with the prospective of being a father, Jerry doesn’t know what to do; it’s not that he doesn’t want the kid, it’s only that has never passed in his mind to have a kid. I have the feeling that Jerry himself hasn’t had a loving family from which learn how to raise a son, and so he is scared to try.
On the other side there is David. As Jerry, David probably didn’t have a good childhood, and he was disowned by his family when he came out, but David has imprinted in his genes how to be a good father. In every thing he does, even in his chosen career, David screams the desire to be a father. I think that, at first, his dislike of Jerry (truth be told, soon forgotten), was more due to the fact that he envied Jerry’s luck to have found William than anything else. David wants William with all his heart, and instead Jerry seems reluctant to take in the kid.
As I said, sex helped the two to find an agreement, and I think it’s a right perspective to read the story. Nor David or Jerry are young starry eyed men, if they are interested in someone else, they are self-confident enough to admit that it’s probably a physical thing, that they are attracted to the other man. Sex arrives quite soon, probably before love, but again, it’s probably a right choice for the story: the romantic development of the story probably would have suggested for them to be together for the well-being of William, maybe ignoring their personal differences. Instead, in a real world, David and Jerry have to test their relationship, to see if they can work together, and then, maybe, they can consider to involve William and try the “family” thing.
Good to Know is a sweet romance without being too much pink glasses perspective, it has the right dose of reality to not being too sugary, and the sex adds spicy to the mix.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1615810773/?...
It’s quite obvious for everyone, reader, friends and family, that David and Jerry are fated to be together and to raise William in a loving family; the problem is for them to understand it. This is basically a romance, there are little obstacles for them to overcome, and probably it helps a lot that both of them are wealthy and independent men, working low salary jobs only for pleasure and not for necessity. There is also little doubt that Jerry will be William’s guardian, even if he is openly gay, Jerry is also the only living relative of the kid, and if you look to the cynical side of it, being also a wealthy man makes things even easier.
So no, the right of the two men to have William with them was never questioned, the little trouble they had was due to the fact that, even if in the more permissive Canada, they were having a homosexual relationship in front of an “impressionable” kid. This is the only trouble and angst element of the entire book, and to know how they dealt with it, I will let you read the story. A story that, unexpectedly, was pretty sexy.
I said unexpectedly since usually more the characters are older, less they seem interested in sex. And instead here sex was up front and probably the first thing that bonded David and Jerry. Jerry is basically a don juan; maybe now he is almost retired, but when he sees a man, an attractive man, the first thing in his mind is, bed him and then talk, and maybe you can even skip the talk part. So when he is faced with the prospective of being a father, Jerry doesn’t know what to do; it’s not that he doesn’t want the kid, it’s only that has never passed in his mind to have a kid. I have the feeling that Jerry himself hasn’t had a loving family from which learn how to raise a son, and so he is scared to try.
On the other side there is David. As Jerry, David probably didn’t have a good childhood, and he was disowned by his family when he came out, but David has imprinted in his genes how to be a good father. In every thing he does, even in his chosen career, David screams the desire to be a father. I think that, at first, his dislike of Jerry (truth be told, soon forgotten), was more due to the fact that he envied Jerry’s luck to have found William than anything else. David wants William with all his heart, and instead Jerry seems reluctant to take in the kid.
As I said, sex helped the two to find an agreement, and I think it’s a right perspective to read the story. Nor David or Jerry are young starry eyed men, if they are interested in someone else, they are self-confident enough to admit that it’s probably a physical thing, that they are attracted to the other man. Sex arrives quite soon, probably before love, but again, it’s probably a right choice for the story: the romantic development of the story probably would have suggested for them to be together for the well-being of William, maybe ignoring their personal differences. Instead, in a real world, David and Jerry have to test their relationship, to see if they can work together, and then, maybe, they can consider to involve William and try the “family” thing.
Good to Know is a sweet romance without being too much pink glasses perspective, it has the right dose of reality to not being too sugary, and the sex adds spicy to the mix.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1615810773/?...
May 7, 2013
2 Hearts
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
William Baldwin Pruit III is a ten year boy, living for the last five years of his life in a boarding school in Switzerland. That all comes to an abrupt end when a lawyer shows up to inform him that his parent died in an accident and as they decided in their will William is to go and live with his only relative alive Jerry McKenzie.
Jerry is forty-six years old and has no family. All he wants and needs is his art and the occasional twink to get off. When a lawyer shows up at his front door telling him he has inherited a ten year old kid, his first reaction is to tell him he doesn’t want the responsibility and that they can take the kid back to boarding school. But after realizing that William is in the back of the car and listening at his words Jerry caves in and gives it a trial. After all, even if the kid is the only family he has, Jerry has been alone for so long he is convinced he doesn’t need one now.
Just when Jerry is about to freak out with the changes in his life and a little boy who needs him, David shows up. David is going to be William’s teacher and offers to help Jerry in this new role, but while they start a platonic friendship it quickly becomes clear that there is so much more for the two men.
This book had all it takes to be a really, really good one. The kid character was perhaps one of the best to start a story with and I feel that it went to complete waste, because while the opening scene was perfect, the rest was just downhill.
It made quite an impression to me that while the two main characters were supposed to be forty-six and forty-two years old their entire behavior was that of teenagers. It made quite an impression on me that a teacher makes a house-call and in the very same day hooks up with the child’s guardian. It made quite an impression on me that said teacher keeps claiming not wanting to hurt the kid yet his entire behavior was selfish and childish. It made quite an impression to me that while this story started with the little boy and how lonely and unloved that kid felt, it continued to be one enormous case of games between the adults and the child was left on the sides only to come forth when needed as a shield. It made quite an impression to me that while this book was about middle-aged men who finally find a family and have to work through it, there were so many tears and melodramatic scenes that would be more at home in a young adult soap-opera.
No, I did not like the writing in this novel at all. The dialogues were beyond surreal, they had this wistful touch all over them and they were literally quite sappy, not what I expected from this kind of read. It was too much on every account. Too fast to fall in love, too fast to make commitment, too fast to break it up and too fast to come back together.
One other thing I didn’t like was the logic behind the events that followed. The logic behind the “villain” in attacking a tenured teacher, the logic behind the “villain” in attacking a little boy without consequences, the logic behind the pair’s final fall out. Oh I really didn’t understand that one. Was it the fact that the characters kept interrupting each other and no one ever made a full sentence? Or was it the fact that there was no reason for their fall out at all. I don’t know, it made no sense.
Bottom end the plot was not attracting at all. They fell in love, things seemed great, a bad guy shows up and creates a bit trouble and after a huge melodramatic scene everything fell in place as if by magic. The characters were too immature and the erotic part was too much. The only thing that held my interested was the child character, everything else was a big no for me.
Thommie
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
William Baldwin Pruit III is a ten year boy, living for the last five years of his life in a boarding school in Switzerland. That all comes to an abrupt end when a lawyer shows up to inform him that his parent died in an accident and as they decided in their will William is to go and live with his only relative alive Jerry McKenzie.
Jerry is forty-six years old and has no family. All he wants and needs is his art and the occasional twink to get off. When a lawyer shows up at his front door telling him he has inherited a ten year old kid, his first reaction is to tell him he doesn’t want the responsibility and that they can take the kid back to boarding school. But after realizing that William is in the back of the car and listening at his words Jerry caves in and gives it a trial. After all, even if the kid is the only family he has, Jerry has been alone for so long he is convinced he doesn’t need one now.
Just when Jerry is about to freak out with the changes in his life and a little boy who needs him, David shows up. David is going to be William’s teacher and offers to help Jerry in this new role, but while they start a platonic friendship it quickly becomes clear that there is so much more for the two men.
This book had all it takes to be a really, really good one. The kid character was perhaps one of the best to start a story with and I feel that it went to complete waste, because while the opening scene was perfect, the rest was just downhill.
It made quite an impression to me that while the two main characters were supposed to be forty-six and forty-two years old their entire behavior was that of teenagers. It made quite an impression on me that a teacher makes a house-call and in the very same day hooks up with the child’s guardian. It made quite an impression on me that said teacher keeps claiming not wanting to hurt the kid yet his entire behavior was selfish and childish. It made quite an impression to me that while this story started with the little boy and how lonely and unloved that kid felt, it continued to be one enormous case of games between the adults and the child was left on the sides only to come forth when needed as a shield. It made quite an impression to me that while this book was about middle-aged men who finally find a family and have to work through it, there were so many tears and melodramatic scenes that would be more at home in a young adult soap-opera.
No, I did not like the writing in this novel at all. The dialogues were beyond surreal, they had this wistful touch all over them and they were literally quite sappy, not what I expected from this kind of read. It was too much on every account. Too fast to fall in love, too fast to make commitment, too fast to break it up and too fast to come back together.
One other thing I didn’t like was the logic behind the events that followed. The logic behind the “villain” in attacking a tenured teacher, the logic behind the “villain” in attacking a little boy without consequences, the logic behind the pair’s final fall out. Oh I really didn’t understand that one. Was it the fact that the characters kept interrupting each other and no one ever made a full sentence? Or was it the fact that there was no reason for their fall out at all. I don’t know, it made no sense.
Bottom end the plot was not attracting at all. They fell in love, things seemed great, a bad guy shows up and creates a bit trouble and after a huge melodramatic scene everything fell in place as if by magic. The characters were too immature and the erotic part was too much. The only thing that held my interested was the child character, everything else was a big no for me.
Thommie
December 30, 2017
A 3.75 in my reckoning!
Loved the cover - and it ties into the story at the end!
This was a good romance, leaving mostly nice, warm feelings.
The story engaged from the start and it was too easy to read it in one sitting! The story is of Jerry who has to take in his orphaned cousin and his growing relationship with his ward's teacher, David. With a bit of homophobic jealousy from another teacher threatening David's career and the relationship to add the angst.
I found Jerry not quite so lovable at beginning - but prob true of any 40+ with only themself to think off - but as the book progressed i found i liked him more than David. The pre-requisite romance breakup (so there can be the make up!) happened very suddenly for me, but it does give us our happy end.
22.9.14 - reread, still enjoyed it. Very insta love, and the breakup/make up is still a bit sudden but quick paced, light read
Loved the cover - and it ties into the story at the end!
This was a good romance, leaving mostly nice, warm feelings.
The story engaged from the start and it was too easy to read it in one sitting! The story is of Jerry who has to take in his orphaned cousin and his growing relationship with his ward's teacher, David. With a bit of homophobic jealousy from another teacher threatening David's career and the relationship to add the angst.
I found Jerry not quite so lovable at beginning - but prob true of any 40+ with only themself to think off - but as the book progressed i found i liked him more than David. The pre-requisite romance breakup (so there can be the make up!) happened very suddenly for me, but it does give us our happy end.
22.9.14 - reread, still enjoyed it. Very insta love, and the breakup/make up is still a bit sudden but quick paced, light read
January 15, 2010
I'm not sure I would agree with Eyre's assessment of this book. When I first began reading it, I was annoyed by David's "schizo"-ness. Sure, he was cruel to the principal about her weight, but don't we all lash out irrationally (and at the wrong person) when we're backed into a corner? But even David changes by the end of the book; he's learned to direct his energies where they belong. And I think that was the point of the book. I finally decided to give it 5 stars because - after thinking on it for a few days - it suddenly dawned on me that this book is about David and his struggle to come to grips with taking what he wants while still giving what others need. And why would we need to see Kitty again? She'd served her purpose...Maybe Marchwell introduces her because she'll be bakc in the sequel?
June 13, 2013
I didn't love this one but it did keep me interested enough to want to know what happened with everyone.
William was a sweet heart and my heart broke for the little cowboy. Jerry & Dave were a little quick to start something at first...but then they did say they were gonna go slow. The writing was a bit choppy and it didn't really flow. Sometimes I was unsure whose pov I was reading and had to go back and reread a few sentences. It was loving yet frustrating...hott & steamy...yet annoyingly sweet. There are more in this series and maybe one day I'll pick up the next one so I can see what's up with William!
William was a sweet heart and my heart broke for the little cowboy. Jerry & Dave were a little quick to start something at first...but then they did say they were gonna go slow. The writing was a bit choppy and it didn't really flow. Sometimes I was unsure whose pov I was reading and had to go back and reread a few sentences. It was loving yet frustrating...hott & steamy...yet annoyingly sweet. There are more in this series and maybe one day I'll pick up the next one so I can see what's up with William!
February 11, 2011
Without the thoroughly sloppy writing, head-hopping and the constant 'what the hell did I miss now?'-feeling brought on by those things... Yeah, it had the potential to be a good book.
I love long books, yet this one felt more like a novella and no, not in a good way at all...
The reading-experience left me annoyed, confused and feeling a bit betrayed. Can't really recommend it.
2 stars for the potential, William and all the languages.
I love long books, yet this one felt more like a novella and no, not in a good way at all...
The reading-experience left me annoyed, confused and feeling a bit betrayed. Can't really recommend it.
2 stars for the potential, William and all the languages.
October 12, 2012
I don't know why I never finished this book. I really liked it at the beginning, but I guess it might have been the slow pace, the slow character development, and the writing style. I'm usually really great with finishing books like this, but I guess this one wasn't my cup of tea. I also really hated how William seemed so mature in the first chapter and then was reduced to sounding and acting like what I had already started expecting him to be. There's a dissonance and it's bothering me.
June 28, 2012
This was a very sweet read. William was just adorable, although I would have liked to see a little more of him in the second half of the book. I loved the way that Jerry and David's relationship developed over the course of the book and I am looking forward to reading more about this family in the next book.
July 25, 2019
DNF...
je n’ai vraiment pas accroché avec ces pensées sexuelles immédiates (a croire que les mecs ne pensent que par le bout qui dépasse du slip...).
Peut être parce qu’il est vieux (2009 en VO), et qu’heureusement les auteurs ont évolué, mais la... c’est juste pas possible.
Le début était prometteur. A 25% j’abandonne.
je n’ai vraiment pas accroché avec ces pensées sexuelles immédiates (a croire que les mecs ne pensent que par le bout qui dépasse du slip...).
Peut être parce qu’il est vieux (2009 en VO), et qu’heureusement les auteurs ont évolué, mais la... c’est juste pas possible.
Le début était prometteur. A 25% j’abandonne.
March 4, 2011
I loved this book. These three guys were perfect for each other and I was pulled right in to their developing relationship. It was great to see them build a family together. They fit together like a puzzle, filing needs with in each other that made this story sweet but not too saccharine.
September 22, 2013
What a sweet read. I must admit I didn't really understand the big fight that went down but I certainly felt the pain. Make me weepy, shocking, I know. I'd put this one in the feel good group because even with the weeping it was so nice and I didn't want to poke my eyes out at any time. Bonus!
February 19, 2016
3,5 stars
------------
Storia carina ma la tempistica degli eventi, i dialoghi un po' confusi, la sfilza di appellativi in ogni frase (cowboy, socio, amico, e... Leone di montagna! Da brivido) hanno reso questo libro meno coinvolgente di quanto avrebbe potuto essere.
------------
Storia carina ma la tempistica degli eventi, i dialoghi un po' confusi, la sfilza di appellativi in ogni frase (cowboy, socio, amico, e... Leone di montagna! Da brivido) hanno reso questo libro meno coinvolgente di quanto avrebbe potuto essere.
June 21, 2017
The pacing was all over the place. Insta-love followed by lots of angst that felt blown way out of proportion. I felt like it was trying to reach an emotional high but fell well short of the mark by forcing it. The kid, William, was adorable. The best part of this story by far.
July 13, 2011
I thought the overall idea of the story was cute but holy crap all the pet names and the crying every other paragraph was way too much for me to handle...
April 8, 2018
Loved it not too most angst just a story about looking finsing something you never thought you wanted or could have a family. It was tender,sweet and a few hot bits.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews