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the_novel_approach's review
5.0
Victoria Sue has done it again. I think this story is better than the first one, and I really, really, liked Joshua’s Rainbow. Honestly, after the first book I hoped that Charlie would get his own HEA, but I just didn’t see how Sue was going to pull it off… Oh, but she did, in brilliant fashion! Even though this is the second book in the series, you don’t have to read the first to understand this one. It would be nice if you did, though, since the groundwork for this series is laid down in book one, with backstory on several characters and our first impressions of Charlie. This is a slow burn, with just the right amount of angst; after all, with Charlie’s and with Noah’s issues there is no way to make this a quickie and have it be believable. However, the journey is worth the trouble, as you will get to meet a whole cast of quirky, somewhat misfit characters and experience romance set in a tropical paradise.
Charlie has reactive attachment disorder. It makes his life a living hell since he cannot touch other people—brushing up against someone causes him physical pain. He also has crippling anxiety and a limited diet since he cannot eat food that has been mixed together. The product of an incredibly dysfunctional family, Charlie took a chance at freedom one day, and it landed him on Rainbow Key. So, how do you fall in love when you cannot touch someone? How do you go on a date when seeing unfamiliar faces makes you nauseous? Charlie has come a long way since he landed on Rainbow Key—his art and the other inhabitants of the island have become his refuge and his home. Circumstances have arisen that have put Charlie in the uncomfortable position of having to greet new guests. He feels he owes it to the guy who took him in when he had nowhere else to go. What was supposed to be a newlywed couple ends up being just one man, Noah, a man who intrigues Charlie and makes him wish for the first time in a long time that he was normal.
Noah was literally stood up at the altar and for the life of him, he cannot figure out why he isn’t more hurt by it. Mad, sure, but hurt, not so much. Taking the honeymoon that he paid for himself seems like a way to get away and clear his head. He’s confused, he’s angry, and he’s not prepared for the broken beauty that meets him at the dock of the resort, stirring things in his heart he’s not really ready to deal with. Life has a way of coming full circle, and I whole-heartedly believe that if Noah had not experienced what he did with his brother, there is no way he could have dealt with Charlie’s issues with the grace, patience and dexterity that he does. Helping Charlie heal helps Noah heal in ways he didn’t, or wouldn’t allow himself to, even realize he was broken.
Both of our MCs here have issues and things in their past as well as their present that they have to deal with, and Victoria Sue takes her time with each of them, leading us to logical, believable conclusions. Nothing is glossed over and our MCs deal with the issues head on. I am really enjoying this series. Sue seems to write about men who, while they are dented in some way, are not truly broken. Her tales are weighted with the reality of the situation but full of hope, love and perseverance. I’m moving on to Ben’s story and frankly cannot wait for Matt. After getting a smidgen of Matt’s story, I truly need him to get his own HEA. The fact that these books are full of the power of love is why I cannot get enough of them. I highly recommend this book and this series, and if Rainbow Key really existed, I would be there tomorrow.
Reviewed by Carrie for The Novel Approach
Charlie has reactive attachment disorder. It makes his life a living hell since he cannot touch other people—brushing up against someone causes him physical pain. He also has crippling anxiety and a limited diet since he cannot eat food that has been mixed together. The product of an incredibly dysfunctional family, Charlie took a chance at freedom one day, and it landed him on Rainbow Key. So, how do you fall in love when you cannot touch someone? How do you go on a date when seeing unfamiliar faces makes you nauseous? Charlie has come a long way since he landed on Rainbow Key—his art and the other inhabitants of the island have become his refuge and his home. Circumstances have arisen that have put Charlie in the uncomfortable position of having to greet new guests. He feels he owes it to the guy who took him in when he had nowhere else to go. What was supposed to be a newlywed couple ends up being just one man, Noah, a man who intrigues Charlie and makes him wish for the first time in a long time that he was normal.
Noah was literally stood up at the altar and for the life of him, he cannot figure out why he isn’t more hurt by it. Mad, sure, but hurt, not so much. Taking the honeymoon that he paid for himself seems like a way to get away and clear his head. He’s confused, he’s angry, and he’s not prepared for the broken beauty that meets him at the dock of the resort, stirring things in his heart he’s not really ready to deal with. Life has a way of coming full circle, and I whole-heartedly believe that if Noah had not experienced what he did with his brother, there is no way he could have dealt with Charlie’s issues with the grace, patience and dexterity that he does. Helping Charlie heal helps Noah heal in ways he didn’t, or wouldn’t allow himself to, even realize he was broken.
Both of our MCs here have issues and things in their past as well as their present that they have to deal with, and Victoria Sue takes her time with each of them, leading us to logical, believable conclusions. Nothing is glossed over and our MCs deal with the issues head on. I am really enjoying this series. Sue seems to write about men who, while they are dented in some way, are not truly broken. Her tales are weighted with the reality of the situation but full of hope, love and perseverance. I’m moving on to Ben’s story and frankly cannot wait for Matt. After getting a smidgen of Matt’s story, I truly need him to get his own HEA. The fact that these books are full of the power of love is why I cannot get enough of them. I highly recommend this book and this series, and if Rainbow Key really existed, I would be there tomorrow.
Charlie laughed, and the small sound took Noah’s breath away. “What do you want, Noah?” Noah smiled. “You,” he said simply. “I’ve never wanted anything more in my entire life.” He swallowed. “I love you.” Noah gazed into Charlie’s eyes. He wanted to say so much more. That he wanted forever, needed forever, and not because it was a dream of the way he wanted to live his life, but because he simply couldn’t live a life without Charlie in it.
Reviewed by Carrie for The Novel Approach
ktomp17's review against another edition
4.0
This was a GREAT second installment of the Rainbow Key series. I was glad to be able to visit Rainbow Key again, this time as a newly reestablished resort, and it was awesome. The changes they made to the resort were refreshing, and I loved the concept of helping others.
We first meet Noah just as he is getting stood up at the alter. He decides to go on the honeymoon by himself just to get away. Charlie has been living at Rainbow Key, and he has been diagnosed with Reactive Attachment Disorder. It has definitely caused some challenges for Charlie in the way of forming relationships with and touching others.
Noah and Charlie have a rocky start (Noah doesn't know about the diagnosis and thinks Charlie is just being rude because he is black and gay), but they eventually get to know each other and fall for each other. Noah treated Charlie with a lot of respect, and he never put him down because of his challenges. Together, they were a great couple. I did think it was weird that Noah was so quick to jump into a new relationship, but I thought Victoria Sue did a great job of showing that even though he was about to get married, the relationship was not that strong to warrant marriage.
Really enjoyed these two, and I am really looking forward to the next book!
We first meet Noah just as he is getting stood up at the alter. He decides to go on the honeymoon by himself just to get away. Charlie has been living at Rainbow Key, and he has been diagnosed with Reactive Attachment Disorder. It has definitely caused some challenges for Charlie in the way of forming relationships with and touching others.
Noah and Charlie have a rocky start (Noah doesn't know about the diagnosis and thinks Charlie is just being rude because he is black and gay), but they eventually get to know each other and fall for each other. Noah treated Charlie with a lot of respect, and he never put him down because of his challenges. Together, they were a great couple. I did think it was weird that Noah was so quick to jump into a new relationship, but I thought Victoria Sue did a great job of showing that even though he was about to get married, the relationship was not that strong to warrant marriage.
Really enjoyed these two, and I am really looking forward to the next book!
lucyp21's review against another edition
3.0
This book is about Charlie who comes to stay at Rainbow Key in order to escape his family. Noah gets jilted at the altar and comes on his honeymoon alone, wanting to get some time and space from everyone.
I liked this book much more than the first book in the series because I felt the relationship between Noah and Charlie was far more stable. Yes, it was again, very insta-love with Noah only being engaged to another man three days before and the two of them making declarations to each other within about a week, but I liked the chemistry between the two of them and their individual journeys were far more interesting to me.
I was very glad that Noah's ex, Michael, wasn't made out to be evil incarnate and I liked how Noah came to realise that. Some of the misunderstandings between Charlie and him were also interesting and sometimes quite funny (poor Charlie and Noah's room), and I liked the side characters from the first book getting involved again.
3 stars!
I liked this book much more than the first book in the series because I felt the relationship between Noah and Charlie was far more stable. Yes, it was again, very insta-love with Noah only being engaged to another man three days before and the two of them making declarations to each other within about a week, but I liked the chemistry between the two of them and their individual journeys were far more interesting to me.
I was very glad that Noah's ex, Michael, wasn't made out to be evil incarnate and I liked how Noah came to realise that. Some of the misunderstandings between Charlie and him were also interesting and sometimes quite funny (poor Charlie and Noah's room), and I liked the side characters from the first book getting involved again.
3 stars!
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