My First M/M Amish Romance – The Shunned by Jay Hughes
30 Mar, 2010 in Male Male Romance 33 Comments
Genre m/m contemporary
pages: 172
Publisher: Ravenous Romance
Book given to me by publisher for review
James Semerad is a young gay man who grew up Amish in the secluded Amish community of Lofstad in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He’s trying to build a new life in the modern world after fleeing the repressive Amish world of his youth, which rejected him. Just as James is growing accustomed to living a modern-day life in the big city of Philadelphia, though, he meets Fred Billingsley, an old-money Main Line lawyer who is also a flamboyantly gay man. Fred picks James up after going through his checkout line at Whole Foods, and they go out on James’ first date ever with another man. But what starts out as a fun date turns into a wild shootout—–Fred is a lawyer to the Philadelphia mob, and he has unwittingly dragged James into the middle of a mob war. Their only safe haven is to go into witness protection in the secluded Amish community of Lofstad, the repressive, devout place where James grew up.
Pack your spiffy felt hat and hop in your horse and buggy, we’re going to the Amish Country for Man Love! Some of you might be thinking doth she looseth her mind? Why doth she write in this absurd accent? I am sans my super girl cape today and instead done my loose linen blouse and get down to business.
The Shunned is a love story about a boy who escapes his abusive Amish life, to live in the city. He meets Fred at his place of work as a grocery store bagger. Fred is very flamboyant, flirtatious, and aggressive in his persuasion for James to come back to his place. This is where it gets interesting and where I had to wear my suspender’s of disbelief.
Fred is a criminal defense attorney…for the mob. Well I’m sure you can all guess what happens next. They both have to enter the witness protection program in Amish country after almost being shot to death. James, his first time being with a man, feels betrayed and abandoned as he is forced back to Amish Country aka the Community to enter the Witness Protection program. Where he will be Shunned. At this point, my lovlies you don’t like Fred, he comes off as selfish and undeserving of Jame’s affection.
Meanwhile Fred has to pretend to be courting one of the Amish females, while James is considered an outcast where he can talk to on one and if forced to live in a barn and perform manual labor. Feeling alone, he meets Samuel, a boy he grew up and is also gay, they secretly converse and share their feelings. Samuel and James make love for the first time and it’s beautiful, both trapped by their upbringing, wanting the freedom to be with one another. At this point I was on board Team SamJam relationship.
Spoiler Alert
So you might be asking what about Fred? Fred ends up kissing a girl, questions his sexuality somehow and worms his way back into James’s affection after almost being killed (again) by the mob. James and Fred return back to the city. Together.
I had some problems with this book. I really wanted to like this book, at times I did. The author did an incredible job with James’s character and his struggles with being gay in an Amish community. My major problem was who James ended up with. After all the selfish acts Fred did, ie working for the Mob, getting them involved in the Witness protection program and forcing James to go with him, he didn’t redeem himself, even at the end. Not that I needed him to, but the romance between them just didn’t work for me. I thought James’s interlude with Samuel was much more believable and deserving.
Final Verdict: I had some troubles getting into The Shunned initially, but after James retruns home to the Commmunity, I think this is where the author shines. You really connect with James and his return home where he is Shunned and casted out. Although I didn’t buy the romance between Fred and James, maybe we can hope for a sequel *crosses fingers* … with Samuel.
Rating – I’m giving this book two ratings
for initial pacing problems and main hero/hero relationship
for James’s character, Amish setting, and for causing me to get chocked up twice (twice)
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“Why doth she write in this absurd accent?” Love it! Mob, Man love,…Amish country? OK. I can see the conflict. It’s amazing where life leads one sometimes. James seems like a good kid who is confused. I think its great when an author tackles something such as this. The conflict between who you are and the society you live in. Where you love both, but both don’t love you. It can be a powerful eye opening experience.
Great review. I feel like I’ve read the book, well not really but kinda.
@KayAnna Kirby you just about summed up the book, lol “Mob, Man Love, Amish Country!
Well that’s disappointing. I mean, here you have two guys with history that risk it all to be together, now that’s romantic. Some dude who doesn’t know if he’s bi, straight or gay and drags everyone along for the ride may make a good fling, but not a hero, imho.
Great review! Smooches dahling
@Queen B it was an odd thing to throw in there. Bottom line Fred was an odd romance choice for James, just didn’t work in my humble opinion. He was too selfish, you didn’t want James to end up with him hence my need to create a sequel with Samuel
It’s an interesting concept but it doesn’t sound like something I’d enjoy;I’ve got too many books in the TBR. Nice, honest review.
(cute loose linen blouse, btw!)
I couldn’t make it to when they returned home..I just couldn’t do it. If Fred had been a different character – I think I could have made it to the end. He is just gross. I liked James’ voice…he needed to be with someone…less sleazy!
Okay, if you couldn’t buy into the romance then I know I shouldn’t even bother. LOL. Sorry, you didn’t like this one. I’m sorry too as being a PA native I love Amish settings in novels!
@Patti (twirls around) why thank you
@Mandi I ate a ‘you can do it cookie’ then I was able to finish The Shunned. I agree, Fred came off as sleazy and selfish. There was another character Samuel, James ended up sleeping with him for his ‘first time’ – wish the author stuck with that relationship.
@Lynette Hello Philly whoo-hoo. I liked the setting, was very excited to read this one. Sometimes concept and idea better than execution.
Oh KC, the books you read! You are my m/m reading idol. Since I din’tcread them I’ll just live vicariously through your experiences
I want an edit-button!! I mean: don’t read… *sigh*
@Pearl Leontine reads m/m maybe someone *looks at Pearl* should try one out one day…
I know weresnakes are out, but hot guys making sweet love. I hear someone *points to chest* made a nifty badge for readers that loose their m/m reading virginity.
The amount of the word “was” on the first page alone had me flinching.
For some reason, I didn’t mind the sex in the safe room during the mob gun fight.
Coming and fire all around!
My favorite part about the book was the middle when James goes back to his roots. This is where the story was the strongest and most interesting. Other parts felt disjointed, but conceptually I liked the Amish story-line. Fred was an ass…team Jam/Sam all the way! When James and Samuel do the naughty dance in the barn…oooh my! :swoons:.
*shakes head* you remember my stance on YA, KC? Well same goes for m/m with me. My TBR is overflowing enough without adding more subgenres despite the lure of that beeootifool button you have made
Next to that, as much as I enjoy m/f/m I am not comfortable with boy-boy only stuff…So I’ll stick to reading y’all’s m/m reviews *wink*
@KB no probs with the getting off scene was more like, really? Someone is shooting at you but you still have time to come? I just couldn’t hack Fred, James deserved Samuel. Once Shunned moved into Amish Country the writing was better & flowed well. Then there was Fred, but we did get a hay loft sex, can I get a hoo-rah?
@K-Khan this is why we are twins we haz the same thoughts. Can you read my mind now? *softly echos* what are we doing for Easter?
@Pearl ::Flashes Mr. Clean button:: think about, m’kay? I can rec one that has little no touchy feely.
Add me to the list of m/m virgins…I don’t think I will pop my cherry with this one though. Suggestions? Also, SamJam sounds like a menu item at Chilis. I’ll take a SamJam please with onion rings. Thank you, I’m here all freaking day.
I remember the day when everyone was first discussing this book. The convos were hilarious! I don’t think I will read it. I’m going to remain a m/m virgin until I read about Qhuay. or Saxon and Blay. Then I shall be a virgin no more!
@Mar you need to take a bow
Do you like funny m/m? Also I find it helps if readers read erotica first get over initial shock of graphic details then move into m/m territory. Fav authors: Josh Lanyon, Tere Michaels, JL Langley, LB Gregg. I could go on. and on. and on.
@Bells your button will my waiting my Tawesome sidekick.
This is kinda awesome. In a funny way. I’m not sure if I am going to read it though.
Great review. Interesting concept with the Amish. You never really think of the Amish having everyday problems. I popped my m/m cherry with LB Gregg so I may stick with him & Sean Kennedy. I’ll just live vicariously through your reading KC.
I love your reviews-you always tell it like is.
One of these days I’ll get over my m/m hang up and actually read one…but I think I’ll skip this one.
@Pat I will say I dug the barn sex scene that was awesome
@Tori You popped your m/m cherry and are just telling me about it *insert dramatics here* do you need a badge?
@Colette when you are ready, I’m here for you. M/M isn’t for everyone especially if you are not an erotic romance reader. Gah I remember the first time I read an Ellora’s Cave book, my poor little Methodist heart just about had a heart attack. This was a very light BDSM book mind you. Now my motto is ‘bring it’.
Fred doesn’t sound like someone I would like either. I’ve never cared for the selfish character types, they always rub me wrong, no matter what light you cast them in at the of the story. Nice review!
@Donna I agree, if you are going to write a character that is selfish in the beginning he or she better turn around by the end of the book.
There is something about the Amish that stirs my wicked side…;)
Like everyone else Fred has missed the mark as a character by a mile, I don’t mind a male with a bit of a bad side but either he must redeem himself or when it matters must do the right thing. Why didn’t the author go with the chemistry between James and Samuel is my question?? I mean, leaving the Amish isn’t – supposedly – easy to do either. It is a choice that also comes with struggles….
@Leontine I’m not sure why, the story seemed to be heading in the that direction especially because Samuel & James made love, while Fred & James only fooled around initially. I feel like this book could have been so much more, the author really knew how to write James, his emotions, dealing with being gay in an Amish community, but fell short. Hence why I’m anticipating a sequel…with James and Samuel
PS Don’t you think we should team up on Pearl & get her to read a m/m book?
@KC – Oh we could but then she has this evil eye glaring at us *shivers in horror* She’s very adamant about it and I’m talking to her about various M/M books hoping it will perk her interest but no…it ain’t meant to happen with her
Now Marissa…she’s a girl we can work with, but then we need to do her house cleaning, watch & entertain her kids for at least a day, preferable two, cook for her hubby and send her off to a luxurious hotel, spa or island with her current book boyfriend…that’s the kind of environment she needs to get her M/M reading going 
I tried to read your review without getting discouraged, since I still have to read this book for review too. I definitely skipped the spoiler at the end, although my curious inner self can hardly resist to read that part, lol. Maybe I need to be prepared better for this book.
@Leontine so Pearl is a lost cause, bummer. Let’s focus all our strengths on Marissa, somebody book the girl a hotel room STAT!
@Janna You will like the book once you get to the middle, beginning is a little rough needs some editing & whatnot, but hang in there b/c it does get better once James goes back to Amish Country and I won’t mention the end.
Thanks for encouraging me, hon!
@Janna You can do it! *waves pom poms*
This one sounds like it really could have been a good read. Just the part of it being in the Amish country was enough of a twist to keep it going. Maybe it was just too much in one book?
I have an award I’d like to pass on to you: http://melissawatercolor.blogspot.com/2010/04/awards.html