Mark A. Roeder

Only the rich can say that “money doesn’t solve everything” since they have enough of it to stop worrying about the basics. As Chauncey proves in this story, no matter how much money you have, your family can still get to you. They may not be able to “blackmail” you financially, but there are other methods. In Chauncey’s case the problem is that he wants nothing to do with running the family company, and has told his grandfather so, but the old man does not want to listen. show more Chauncey respects and likes his grandfather too much to refuse the summons to the family residence for Christmas, so he has to find another way of finally getting everyone to leave him alone.

Chauncey’s plan is as ingenious as it is devious. He figures that if he shocks the family enough they will finally let him do his own thing. A “boy toy” ten years younger than Chauncey, barely legal, and ideally a Goth should do it. The man he recruits is barely eighteen, a prostitute since he was fifteen, and selling his body is the only way he can make ends meet. Chauncey hadn’t put much thought into the feelings of the man he “hired”, but as he gets to know Cole, who tells it as he sees it, Chauncey begins to realize he is using Cole as much as any of the men who pay him for sex. This does not sit well with Chauncey, but it does trigger some changes in the way he looks at things.

Chauncey’s family is something else! He compares then to the soap opera Dynasty, and that isn’t far off. His cousins all want to take over the company and are scheming and plotting against Chauncey and each other to get there. None of them believe that Chauncey truly is not interested, and they will stop at nothing to get their hands on even more billions than the millions they already have. A few unexpected twists and turns as things escalate make this not just an amusing, but a very suspenseful read.

Cole is a breath of fresh air not just for Chauncey, but also for the rest of his family and the stuffy members of society he has been hired to scandalize. Cole is an excellent actor and has the part of “boy toy” down pat. But he also begins to understand and even like – just a little – Chauncey. He still takes whatever gifts Chauncey showers him with as part of the act with open hands, but as the story develops and he sees what Chauncey has to put up with, their relationship becomes a little more personal.

If you like stories about the problems of rich people, if two men from different worlds trying to bridge the chasm between them sound interesting, and if you’re looking for a read that is funny, suspenseful, a great character study all around, and very sweet, then you will probably like this novel. It makes for great reading at any time, but is particularly poignant around Christmas – when many of us are more exposed (willingly or not) to our families than during the rest of the year. show less

Given its status as a self-published novel, Mark Roeder's SOMEONE IS KILLING THE GAY BOYS OF VERONA (a terrible title) is at a bit of a disadvantage. Thanks to vanity presses, the publishing landscape is littered with far too many badly-written examples of literary hubris that should never have seen the light of day. However, as with most of Mark Roeder's efforts, this generalization doesn't apply here. While nowhere near perfect, this gothic installment in Roeder's series of "Gay Youth show more Chronicles" manages to overcome its grandest faults (repetitiveness and a desperate need for editing) with an ambitious plot that straddles romantic, paranormal, and sociopolitical themes. It also boasts a harrowing, cinematic climax likely to thrill most readers. And while the voice of the teenage protagonist, Sean, doesn't always feel completely authentic (he's a 16-year-old gay boy who often refers to sex as "making love" and doesn't seem torn up *quite* enough about his friends' deaths), there's enough warmth and sincerity to the story to pull it all together nonetheless. show less

Given that this was the second book in the Gay Youth Chronicle series, it could be assumed that Roeder had decided to continue with a sequel to Part 1 - Outfield Menace, as Roeder needed to give a proper ending to Kurt and Angel's relationship.

There were several characters introduced in the book which I had wondered if they were necessary. And they seemed to be too good to be true - all were so willing to welcome a gay youth into their lives. It was painted a little too perfect.

Somehow, show more Roeder repeated often several lines - for example, Angel's reflection on how nice Jack and his wife were and how nice grandma and her granddaughter were. I did think that somehow grandma would pass away and the little girl would end up with Jack and his wife. However, that did not happen. So, I am still puzzled why they were introduced into the storyline.

Apparently the kids in the town did not learn much. After bullies were arrested for murder, this should have shocked some into hiding. This was not so. New bullies worked with old bullies. Funny. Still, as a fan of Roeder's work, I looked forward for more stories from him. show less

I went back to read this novel by Mark Roeder since, having read Masked Destiny, I learned some info about one of the character, Brendan Brewer, that let me think it was a nice and sweet love story; in a way it’s and there is also a bit of “fairytale” feeling that makes it light, and on the contrary of Masked Destiny, there isn’t any paranormal event, making it an ordinary, and in this case ordinary is nice, coming of age story.

Brendan is the most popular kid at high school, show more quarterback of the football team, handsome and friendly, for a very wealthy family that allow him to have a nice car and all the last fashion available, Brendan is even more fascinating since he seems unaware of his good looks and fortune. Brendan has also a secret, but not really something that is causing him trouble: he is gay, and in his openness and yes, lucky youth, he has already realized it and decided it’s fine. Sure, Brendan is aware he cannot come out at school that it’s not easy, but more or less, he is fine.

Not the same for Casper; he is the poorest kid at school, and even worst, he is abused at home; his older brother has more than once abused him and he is still doing that. Most night Casper sleeps under the open sky to avoid being alone in the same room with his brother. In his young mind, Casper associates being gay with being abused, and so, when Brendan makes a move with him, Casper is scared to death.

But as I said, Brendan is such a nice boy that Casper in the end is able to trust him; their newfound happiness is destroyed by Brendan’s family and but the dramatic decision they take on their son’s fate. Again Brendan will prove to be strong and with a self-consciousness that is rare in such a young man; he will maintain the promise he did to Casper to protect him, whatever it will take.

I preferred the first part of the story, until Brendan and Casper are trying to find their path in life alone; I found the last part, when Brendan and Casper go to live with Ethan and Nathan (from Someone Is Watching) a little too similar to what I guess is Ethan and Nathan’s own story, almost a repetition. All in all, I think that, even if Casper is cuter and the one who needs more protection, even from the reader point of view, I think the best character was Brendan, I most of all loved how he is so open with his feelings and ready to love despite all the trouble it implies.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/145657390X/?tag=elimyrevandra-20 show less