In memory of Alice Morgan

Alice Morgan wrote two titles as a Harlequin American Romance author. She also wrote for Candlelight Ecstasy Supreme.

Alice Morgan passed away on January 18, 1996 due to congestive heart failure. Her niece Jessica Briggs, alias Jessica Morgan, is a fan fiction author.

To read more:

http://rosaromance.splinder.com/post/19616213/

In memory of Alice Morgan

Alice Morgan wrote two titles as a Harlequin American Romance author. She also wrote for Candlelight Ecstasy Supreme.

Alice Morgan passed away on January 18, 1996 due to congestive heart failure. Her niece Jessica Briggs, alias Jessica Morgan, is a fan fiction author.

To read more:

http://rosaromance.splinder.com/post/19616213/

Beautiful Thing (1996) directed by Hettie Macdonald

Director: Hettie Macdonald

Writers: Jonathan Harvey (written by)
Jonathan Harvey (play)

Release Date: 28 March 1996 (London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival)
7 September 1996 (Toronto Film Festival)

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Tagline: An urban fairytale

Plot: A pair of teenage boys growing up in a working-class neighborhood become aware of their homosexuality. While both were vaguely aware they might be gay, neither had ever acted on their impulses. Once they decide that they're attracted to each other, neither is sure just what to do.

This absolute winner, based on a stage play by Jonathan Harvey and adapted by him, is a kind of enchanted, urban slice-of-life tale about a gay teen, Jamie (Glen Berry), who is in love with the boy next door, Ste (Scott Neal). Hampering Jamie's progress on the romantic front is his fear that his mother (Linda Henry) will find out, as well as concern over complicating Ste's existing problems. Beautiful Thing is a relationship movie, to be sure, but that description doesn't really describe the buoyant tone of this British television production. Democratic in its inclusive regard for each character (whether camera-pretty or not), the film--well-directed by Hettie Macdonald--is full of surprises. Chief among them is the terrific personality of Jamie's mum, a strong and independent woman who truly worries over and adores her son. But this is a movie involved in a kind of happy dialogue with itself: the tunes of Mama Cass, for instance, play a part in both the story and overall ambience, while a strategic placement of the Rodgers and Hammerstein chestnut "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" during an act of love is fun and exciting. (Tom Keogh)

Awards: 1997 Chlotrudis Awards Nomination as Best Actress (Linda Henry) and Best Movie
1996 European Film Awards Nomination as Best Young Film (Hettie Macdonald)
1996 President Award as Best Script (Jonathan Harvey), Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival
1997 GLAAD Media Award as Outstanding Film (Limited Release)
1996 Grand Prix to Hettie Macdonald, Paris Film Festival
1996 International Jury Award - Honorable Mention to Hettie Macdonald, São Paulo International Film Festival

@IMDb
@Amazon: Beautiful Thing
@Netflix
@Wolfe Video 

 

( more pics )

Cast (in credits order)
Glen Berry ... Jamie Gangel
Scott Neal ... Ste Pearce
Meera Syal ... Miss Chauhan
Martin Walsh ... Mr. Bennett
Steven M. Martin ... Ryan McBride
Andrew Fraser ... Jayson
John Savage ... Lenny
Julie Smith ... Gina
Linda Henry ... Sandra Gangel
Jeillo Edwards ... Rose
( rest of the cast )

Beautiful Thing (1996) directed by Hettie Macdonald

Director: Hettie Macdonald

Writers: Jonathan Harvey (written by)
Jonathan Harvey (play)

Release Date: 28 March 1996 (London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival)
7 September 1996 (Toronto Film Festival)

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Tagline: An urban fairytale

Plot: A pair of teenage boys growing up in a working-class neighborhood become aware of their homosexuality. While both were vaguely aware they might be gay, neither had ever acted on their impulses. Once they decide that they're attracted to each other, neither is sure just what to do.

This absolute winner, based on a stage play by Jonathan Harvey and adapted by him, is a kind of enchanted, urban slice-of-life tale about a gay teen, Jamie (Glen Berry), who is in love with the boy next door, Ste (Scott Neal). Hampering Jamie's progress on the romantic front is his fear that his mother (Linda Henry) will find out, as well as concern over complicating Ste's existing problems. Beautiful Thing is a relationship movie, to be sure, but that description doesn't really describe the buoyant tone of this British television production. Democratic in its inclusive regard for each character (whether camera-pretty or not), the film--well-directed by Hettie Macdonald--is full of surprises. Chief among them is the terrific personality of Jamie's mum, a strong and independent woman who truly worries over and adores her son. But this is a movie involved in a kind of happy dialogue with itself: the tunes of Mama Cass, for instance, play a part in both the story and overall ambience, while a strategic placement of the Rodgers and Hammerstein chestnut "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" during an act of love is fun and exciting. (Tom Keogh)

Awards: 1997 Chlotrudis Awards Nomination as Best Actress (Linda Henry) and Best Movie
1996 European Film Awards Nomination as Best Young Film (Hettie Macdonald)
1996 President Award as Best Script (Jonathan Harvey), Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival
1997 GLAAD Media Award as Outstanding Film (Limited Release)
1996 Grand Prix to Hettie Macdonald, Paris Film Festival
1996 International Jury Award - Honorable Mention to Hettie Macdonald, São Paulo International Film Festival

@IMDb
@Amazon: Beautiful Thing
@Netflix
@Wolfe Video 

 

( more pics )

Cast (in credits order)
Glen Berry ... Jamie Gangel
Scott Neal ... Ste Pearce
Meera Syal ... Miss Chauhan
Martin Walsh ... Mr. Bennett
Steven M. Martin ... Ryan McBride
Andrew Fraser ... Jayson
John Savage ... Lenny
Julie Smith ... Gina
Linda Henry ... Sandra Gangel
Jeillo Edwards ... Rose
( rest of the cast )

You Were Always On My Mind by Deirdre O'Dare

Although I can't expect much in a very short story like this one, 37 pages, the author manages to make me change my mind on one of the two hero even in few pages.

Garth and Peter went to high school together. I believe that Garth had an hero adoration for Peter: Garth was a nerdy type, all books and school, to much shy to be forward with girls, and so he remained alone by himself; his only link to the outside world was Peter, the bad boy of the school, that parents avoid and that daughters always looked for. Handsome and friendly, he took Garth under his wing (maybe also with a selfish interest, since the boy did his homework) and Garth was more than happy to follow. There was no hint in Garth's recollection of the past to a sexual interest, if not for an only night, when Peter and Garth fooled around with too much beer in body, but the morning after all was like before, and then they went to different college and different life.

Now Garth is a high-paid lawyer specialized in the show business world, and Peter is a famous singer with a problem. It's obvious that Peter asks to Garth to be his lawyer, it's not so obvious that, from the first time they met, Peter shifts their relationship to a personal level and Garth is unable to deny him. Peter has the reputation of a womanizer, in the magazines is not said that he is into men, and Garth has always thought to be a one man type... so why neither of them deny what is it happening between them.

At first Peter is not a very nice character; even when he was a teenager, he was arrogant and even a bit selfish. As an adult, nothing is changed, he still takes what he wants without asking, almost believing that all is due since he is the MAN. Truth be told he is willing to reciprocate, but still, it would be nice if he asked at least once. Anyway, Garth is not the type of man who resents to be treated in a submissive way: there is not a clear reference to a D/s relationship, but it's obvious that Peter and Garth correspond to the classical top and bottom pair. As Peter said, they have a past in common that allows Peter to skip a lot of step in his new relationship with Garth, and maybe this also allows to Garth to be comfortable with Peter in a way he would never be with someone else.

So yes, the story is nice, even if I would likely kill Peter if I met him in real life. And they spend a lot of time in bed, there is really no time to relate them with the outside world, but well, it's always the same problem when the story is short.

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/YouWereAlwaysOnMyMind.html

Amazon Kindle: You Were Always On My Mind

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle

You Were Always On My Mind by Deirdre O'Dare

Although I can't expect much in a very short story like this one, 37 pages, the author manages to make me change my mind on one of the two hero even in few pages.

Garth and Peter went to high school together. I believe that Garth had an hero adoration for Peter: Garth was a nerdy type, all books and school, to much shy to be forward with girls, and so he remained alone by himself; his only link to the outside world was Peter, the bad boy of the school, that parents avoid and that daughters always looked for. Handsome and friendly, he took Garth under his wing (maybe also with a selfish interest, since the boy did his homework) and Garth was more than happy to follow. There was no hint in Garth's recollection of the past to a sexual interest, if not for an only night, when Peter and Garth fooled around with too much beer in body, but the morning after all was like before, and then they went to different college and different life.

Now Garth is a high-paid lawyer specialized in the show business world, and Peter is a famous singer with a problem. It's obvious that Peter asks to Garth to be his lawyer, it's not so obvious that, from the first time they met, Peter shifts their relationship to a personal level and Garth is unable to deny him. Peter has the reputation of a womanizer, in the magazines is not said that he is into men, and Garth has always thought to be a one man type... so why neither of them deny what is it happening between them.

At first Peter is not a very nice character; even when he was a teenager, he was arrogant and even a bit selfish. As an adult, nothing is changed, he still takes what he wants without asking, almost believing that all is due since he is the MAN. Truth be told he is willing to reciprocate, but still, it would be nice if he asked at least once. Anyway, Garth is not the type of man who resents to be treated in a submissive way: there is not a clear reference to a D/s relationship, but it's obvious that Peter and Garth correspond to the classical top and bottom pair. As Peter said, they have a past in common that allows Peter to skip a lot of step in his new relationship with Garth, and maybe this also allows to Garth to be comfortable with Peter in a way he would never be with someone else.

So yes, the story is nice, even if I would likely kill Peter if I met him in real life. And they spend a lot of time in bed, there is really no time to relate them with the outside world, but well, it's always the same problem when the story is short.

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/YouWereAlwaysOnMyMind.html

Amazon Kindle: You Were Always On My Mind

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle

A Tender Rough by Fae Sutherland

Beau is the classical country boy, and he likes so. He has not dreams to go away, he wants to buy the garage where he is working now, and the big house soon out the town, and build a big loving family like the one he has. If he wanted, he had the chance to go to college, to leave the small town where he was born, but he had a taste of the big city and he didn't find anything there that for him compares to the life he just has. It's quite obvious that Beau has never had something bad happen to him, but well, why we have to make him feel guilty? Lucky him that he can still face the world with so much faith in good things.

Mason is a city boy who is stuck in Dixon, Alabama, since his car decided that it was not made for driving in a country road. The diagnosis is more than a week only to wait for the necessary parts, and then, maybe... It is not that Mason is eager to arrive to destination, witnessing to the five marriage of his mother is not first on his list, but what can he do in Dixon? there is no wireless internet, no special restaurants... but well, there is Beau and his charming question, "Want company?" when he said that he was going to bed...

Beau is like an hurricane, he is always happy and Mason feels guilty everytime he says something nasty that for a moment shut down the light in those eyes: how can you kick a puppy?. And so Mason is starting more and more to avoid to say nasty things, and always agree to every crazy idea Beau brings on... even maybe accept to live in small town Alabama!

It's quite a fairy land the one described in this book, I don't believe that in deep Alabama exists a place like Dixon, where you can be openly gay, accepted by family and folks, you have the chance to have enough experience to know what you like, and you can think to marry another man and adopt children... but it would be nice if it was real. In that small town, Beau can dream, and he can be sure that his dreams will come true sooner or later; he can fall in love in a week, and his love can be mutual. In fairy land, Mason has enough money to not worry to give up to his ordinary city life and move on in a place where even an internet connection is a problem. But well, this is a romance, and finally a romance where everything goes right, where you know that your two heroes will fall in love, and that nothing will intervene between them; and so when the book is leading toward a final very similar to "An Affair to Remember" (the movie), you will know that, in a way or another, there will be an happily ever after.

http://www.ellorascave.com/productpage.asp?ISBN=9781419919565

Amazon Kindle: A Tender Rough

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle

A Tender Rough by Fae Sutherland

Beau is the classical country boy, and he likes so. He has not dreams to go away, he wants to buy the garage where he is working now, and the big house soon out the town, and build a big loving family like the one he has. If he wanted, he had the chance to go to college, to leave the small town where he was born, but he had a taste of the big city and he didn't find anything there that for him compares to the life he just has. It's quite obvious that Beau has never had something bad happen to him, but well, why we have to make him feel guilty? Lucky him that he can still face the world with so much faith in good things.

Mason is a city boy who is stuck in Dixon, Alabama, since his car decided that it was not made for driving in a country road. The diagnosis is more than a week only to wait for the necessary parts, and then, maybe... It is not that Mason is eager to arrive to destination, witnessing to the five marriage of his mother is not first on his list, but what can he do in Dixon? there is no wireless internet, no special restaurants... but well, there is Beau and his charming question, "Want company?" when he said that he was going to bed...

Beau is like an hurricane, he is always happy and Mason feels guilty everytime he says something nasty that for a moment shut down the light in those eyes: how can you kick a puppy?. And so Mason is starting more and more to avoid to say nasty things, and always agree to every crazy idea Beau brings on... even maybe accept to live in small town Alabama!

It's quite a fairy land the one described in this book, I don't believe that in deep Alabama exists a place like Dixon, where you can be openly gay, accepted by family and folks, you have the chance to have enough experience to know what you like, and you can think to marry another man and adopt children... but it would be nice if it was real. In that small town, Beau can dream, and he can be sure that his dreams will come true sooner or later; he can fall in love in a week, and his love can be mutual. In fairy land, Mason has enough money to not worry to give up to his ordinary city life and move on in a place where even an internet connection is a problem. But well, this is a romance, and finally a romance where everything goes right, where you know that your two heroes will fall in love, and that nothing will intervene between them; and so when the book is leading toward a final very similar to "An Affair to Remember" (the movie), you will know that, in a way or another, there will be an happily ever after.

http://www.ellorascave.com/productpage.asp?ISBN=9781419919565

Amazon Kindle: A Tender Rough

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle