Reviews and Opinions

REVIEWS FOR “WHEN MEMORY FAILS”:

Courtesy of Pixie at MM Good Book Reviews

Review:  This is a beautifully written story which is about Hank and Scott and is two years after the end of Falling. When they receive happy news it gets Hank thinking about his own family and how he wants to reconnect but doesn’t think they will approve of Scott, Scott knows that Hank has been thinking more and more about his own family and decides to do something about it. What we see after that is that their love is deeper and stronger than ever before, that they will never let each other down and that they will always put the other first no matter what.

The sex scenes are loving, intense and experimental; these two men really know how to burn up the sheets. There is happiness, there is sadness, there are doubts but most of all there is love.

So I think this story has a bit of everything in it to make it worth your while to read and most of all it has a Happy Ever After.

REVIEWS FOR “AN EARLIER HEAVEN”:

Courtesy of Rosemary of Whipped Cream Erotic Romance

Two men deeply in love, one precocious boy, and a troubled teenager are the perfect combination in this sexy and heartwarming novel by D. W. Marchwell. An Earlier Heaven is the captivating sequel to Good to Know, and it is absolutely fabulous!

Jerry McKenzie and David Loewenberger are now married and settled into life on the ranch with Jerry’s orphaned nephew and newly adopted son William. David is still teaching school, and Jerry is preparing for an upcoming art exhibit. William is a sixth grader, and he is quite happy with the new life he now has with his two dads. Will William’s newfound friendship with Cory bring heartache or joy to this loving and close knit family?

An Earlier Heaven is realistic and engrossing, and Mr. Marchwell brings the characters vividly to life. David and Jerry are still in the honeymoon phase of their relationship, and it is a sheer joy to watch their day to day interactions with one another. Their lovemaking is intensely passionate and highly sensual. David and Jerry’s concern and love for William is touching, and their patience with him is almost endless. The introduction of Cory into their lives is not without some risk given his abusive past, but David and Jerry are helpless to resist when it becomes apparent that Cory is in desperate need of their assistance.

While the overall tone of An Earlier Heaven is upbeat and positive, Mr. Marchwell keeps the novel firmly grounded in reality with some of life’s harsher moments. William has to learn to deal with the inevitable deaths that are a fact of life. Cory’s unfortunate home life is yet another sad truth that occurs in today’s world more often than we would like. David and Jerry are still contending with the bigotry that sometimes faces those in same sex marriages and relationships.

D. W. Marchwell achieves an ideal blend of the good and bad times that come with life. There are a few moments that will bring tears and while the most of the tears are happy ones, there will be a few sad ones mixed in there as well. An Earlier Heaven is a beautiful reminder to count your blessings no matter how big or small, and it will linger in your heart and mind long after the last page is turned.

Courtesy of Scandalous Minx at Literary Nymphs Reviews

Jerry McKenzie never imagined becoming a husband and father. A year after he adopted his nephew and married the man of his dreams, Jerry still cannot believe how lucky he is. David Loewenberger feels the same intense happiness towards Jerry and William. The three have created an ideal family situation that filled a void in their lives. And while William is the perfect son, he has his fathers worried. Jerry and David want their son happy and to make new friends to share his time with. William isn’t a boy who wants quantity; he prefers quality, which is evident when he encounters a high school student named Cory. Cory has his own issues to sort out, but he’s got a heart of gold that is soon recognized by the tiny family. Is there room in the family for one more child?

An Earlier Heaven is the sequel to D.W. Marchwell’s wonderful story Good to Know. William has definitely grown since the first story. While he’s still young and reacts as only an innocent child could to some situations, his raw emotions brought out my protective mother spirit while reading this story. Jerry and David still have that passionate and explosive chemistry that reminded me of how good a relationship could be with the right mate. Cory was an added bonus to the drama. His pain and desire to have someone care about his was so real, I couldn’t help but root for him and hope that he would find the love and shelter he deserved with the family.

There were a few surprises along the way that kept the story moving along at a nice rate. Marchwell has done yet another fantastic job with creating a story designed to draw the reader in and keep you compelled until the final sentence. Those who enjoyed the first story don’t want to miss this superb sequel.

REVIEWS FOR “FALLING”:

A Fallen Angel Reviews Recommended Read!  by Hayley at Fallen Angels Reviews

I’m a sucker for “gay for you” stories and that is essentially what Falling is about. Hank is a womanizer, cut and dried. He’s also a pretty flaky person in the beginning but in spite of all that he is still a likable character. Maybe because we are given an inner glimpse of what drives him, otherwise I’m not sure I would have been as drawn to his plight. On the other hand I would have had no difficulties what so ever falling for Scott. He is a sweetheart from the get-go. The relationship between them developed at a slower pace than is the norm for most stories in this drama. That made it all the more special when the men finally come to the realization of what they mean to each other and what their lives would be without the other. I highly recommend Falling to all those who love a great love story!

Courtesy of Lilyraines at Night Owl Reviews

I found Falling to be a very enjoyable read.  The interactions between the characters, and how those interactions defined the different relationships, made the book seem as if only a few minutes flew by and not a few days.  The easy relationship between Scott and Brian, the budding relationship between Brian and Kari, and how Scott’s and Hank’s relationship evolves are all intriguing.  I’m recommending the book!

Courtesy of Kathy Kozekewich

D.W. Marchwell’s books are addictive! I’ve not read one that’s not appealed to me in a big way. His characters are regular people with flaws and foibles, his scenes varied but always based in reality, and his stories clutch at the heart strings and you don’t want to get away. This is the third of Marchwell’s full-length novels and I’m hooked; but then I’ve been enamoured of this author’s writing since the first book. There’s something about the way that his characters interact, and something about who they are that really resonates with me. And the stories are, while sometimes very different, still provide the romantic in me with a fantastic and very satisfying read. In Falling, Sam and Hank, on the surface, are wildly different. Hank is a logger and he’s happiest outdoors drinking in the scenery from his perch way up high in the tallest trees. He’s addicted to the thrill that’s part of the logger’s life while the rest of his life is little more than a search, for what he doesn’t know; but women and partying aren’t providing him with anything real. Sam, on the other hand, is a well-established musician from Toronto. His music is pretty much his life; between writing and performing he’s not had the time, or really, the inclination to find a man to build a relationship with. But yet there’s something about the other that draws them together. If you want a romance that’ll give you all the tingles that you want; if you want beautiful descriptions of scenery or if you plain just want a great story with interesting characters, then Falling is the book for you…

REVIEWS FOR “SINS OF THE FATHER”:

Courtesy of Lydia at Rainbow Reviews:

Dealing with loss, redemption, and second chances, author D.W. Marchwell’s book, “Sins of the Father,” is not a light and easy read. The characters are strongly written and are sure to pull at the heartstrings of the readers. Charlie and James have each faced similar tragedies as children, tragedies that still affect their adult lives, yet as adults it has taken them in different directions.

While Charlie has more or less come to terms with the sins of his father, and thanks to his late partner put them behind him, James has all but buried his past in order to go on with his life. When James’ father, who is still in prison, hopes for reconciliation with his son, he turns to Charlie for help. Things do not go smoothly, and the emotions and behaviors James and Charlie exhibit as their pasts are revealed, come across realistically as those who have been in similar situations can attest to.

However, as much as I liked the story and found both the plot and characters hard to walk away from, I did not feel as if the chemistry between Charlie and James was explored enough. I felt as if the angst within the story overpowered everything at times and did not give the two men time to make a real connection beyond their similar histories. That being said, if you are looking for something that’s more than just fluff, something with a deep storyline, then grab this book as it will leave you thinking about it long after you have finished reading.

Courtesy of Ana at the Romance Studio:

I really enjoyed this book even though it did cause me to shed a few tears. It is very well written. It moves smoothly between the past and the present. I can’t say that I think of it as a romance though it does have some romance in it, this is a story of redemption and reconciliation. The characters are so well developed that the reader almost feels what they are going through. I liked that even after all that Charlie had been through in the past he still had hope and compassion for other people instead of being bitter and that James has not given up hope on trying to find love. I had a small problem with the story line of Deanna and Beth; it just sort of cut off in the middle of the story and left me dangling. I would have liked to have seen that resolved differently. There is m/m sex in the story but it is not too detailed or offensive. I think even if you a reader did not m/m fiction that they would enjoy this book it is that good of a story, it reminds the reader of the healing power of forgiveness even if we are only forgiving ourselves.

Courtesy of B.D. Whitney of BookWenches:

In his novel Sins of the Father, D.W. Marchwell gives his readers a thought-provoking and touching story of love and second chances. This is a tale of two men who have both suffered due to the actions of their fathers and who must learn to let go of their pasts and embrace what the future has to offer them. I enjoyed reading this story. While it is not flashy or exciting, it is well-written and very involving, and it tells a very sweet and emotional romance.

While I’m not a huge fan of prologues and epilogues, I have come to realize over time that sometimes these literary devices can enrich the reading experience. Such is the case in Sins of the Father. While the overall novel is written in the past tense, both the prologue and the epilogue are written in the present tense, giving the reader a feeling of three snapshots in time. These scenes may not be absolutely essential to the telling of the tale, but each documents a hugely important and emotional point in time, and the epilogue especially provides a sense of closure.

With his two main characters, Mr. Marchwell gives us a couple of ordinary fellows – “everymen,” if you will – who are undergoing extraordinary events. Charlie is a character that the reader can care for while at the same time acknowledging his flaws. He is less than perfect, but it is because of this that we become emotionally invested in him. To keep himself from dwelling on his own loss, Charlie throws himself into helping others. He may think that he has come to terms with his father’s actions, but he hasn’t, really, and the loss of his husband only exacerbates matters. He clings to the prison and to his GED program there as a coping mechanism. His emotional neediness allows him to become so caught up in the drama revolving around Caleb and James that it won’t let him go. In a way, he lives vicariously through these two, and his absolute need to see them reunited makes him pushy to a flaw.

James is not quite as well developed a character as is Charlie, which makes sense given that Charlie is the main focus of the story. While James is likeable, we don’t draw him quite as close to our hearts, and my only real worry about his peace of mind as I read the story involved how it would affect Charlie.

Mr. Marchwell indicates that all of his stories have at least some basis in fact. This probably contributes much to the feeling of realism that exists in this novel, from the prison to the interpersonal dynamics to the sense of love and loss that the characters feel. There are no feats of daring, good-versus-evil struggles, explosions, or car chases. There is, however, a deep feeling of emotion that permeates this entire story. As I readSins of the Father, I felt a sense of despair that Charlie and James would ever be able to make a future together. The issue of Caleb and his need for James’s forgiveness hangs over their heads like the Sword of Damocles. The reader knows that one day it is going to fall, and the results will probably not be pretty.

Sins of the Father made me grab for a handkerchief on several different occasions. (I know, I know…I cry at the drop of a hat. It’s a talent, I tell you.) I count that as a good thing, however. Overall, I found this to be involving and affecting and not just a toss-away read. I found reading this novel to be time very well spent, and I will be looking forward to more from Mr. Marchwell in the future.

REVIEWS FOR “GOOD TO KNOW”:

Courtesy of B.D. Whitney at BookWenches:

D.W. Marchwell’s Good to Know is a novel about being true to yourself and your heart regardless of any perceived consequences. I found it to be an agreeable read with memorable characters, a believable situation, and more than its fair share of emotion.

Perhaps it is the parent in me, but I’m pretty much a sucker for stories that have children in them, especially children who need love and family as much as the child does inGood to Know. The little boy, William, is simply adorable. He’s a little young for a 10-year-old, but that can be attributed to the emotional neglect of his parents over the years. From the very beginning of the novel, he grabbed my heart, and my emotional investment in the story continued throughout. I’m not sure that I would classify this story as a “tear jerker,” but I will definitely admit to needing a tissue or three by the conclusion.

I appreciated the fact that both of the heroes in this story are over the age of forty. Those of us over a certain age know that love isn’t just for the twenty- and thirty-somethings; however, most romances focus on younger characters.

In David and Jerry, Mr. Marchwell gives readers two less-than-perfect but quite sympathetic heroes. David considers himself an “emotional wreck.” He has brought a lot of heartbreak down upon himself over the years by allowing others to take advantage of his fears, but this time if he wants to keep Jerry and William in his life, he’ll have to stand up and fight for who he is and what he believes in. I’ll admit to feeling a little impatient with him a time or two for his passivity, but he is overall a quite loveable character. Besides, he’s an adorable drunk, and you’ve got to love a guy who becomes funny when his inhibitions are lowered.

While David has to learn to “cowboy up” and do what it takes in this story, Jerry learns what it is like to need a family. His extreme anger at David regarding what he sees as David’s cowardice and his subsequent verbal cruelty to the man are a little hard to take, but they are an entirely human knee-jerk reaction to his feeling as if his trust were betrayed.

Along with the trio of main characters, Good to Know features a number of memorable secondary players: Lenore, the tough-as-nails ex nun; Sara, the wise lesbian Child and Family agent; and Bennett, the nasty homophobic bible-thumper and rabble-rouser. They add color and depth to the story, and the repartee that flies between Lenore and David is especially amusing.

The author bio at the end of Good to Know indicates that Mr. Marchwell is a teacher. That doesn’t surprise me, because the character David is a very believable and realistic teacher. As an American, I won’t pretend to understand the working of the Canadian school system, but David and his experiences still felt very “real” to me. Overall, I found this story to be quite readable. It made me smile, it made me a bit teary-eyed, and it definitely appealed to the romantic in me.

Courtesy of Kathy Kozakewich:

I was completely enchanted, both by the characters and their stories that became their story. A heartwarming romance with two men and a boy all looking for somewhere to belong. It’s about a search for friendship, family and love and about taking what they have made of their lives and learning to open themselves up and risk hurt. But anything worthwhile is earned with tears, sweat and labour and in Good to Know, D.W. Marchwell shows himself to be cognizant and familiar with these concepts. I’m now firmly in the D.W. Marchwell fan club and will be sure to acquire anything this most talented writer comes out with. Fabulous!.

Courtesy of Vanessa Vostmyer:

This was a wonderful story! It had the perfect balance of the three important H’s: heart, humor, and heat. Hat’s off to D.W. Marchwell for an exceptional read…