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Conflicted
Two competing gangs of car and drag racing enthusiasts with a shared history of pain and rivalry leading to outright hatred. Two men from opposite sides of the tracks, yet with more in common than they’d like to admit.
Paul Appleton is a troubled man who has never been in a relationship, having lost everyone he cared for in his life. His mother died when he was very young and subsequently, he lost his brother and his best friend. Now Paul is convinced love will always end in tears.
Greg was living on the streets after his parents died and was stabbed by a junkie, ending up in hospital. The Buchanans took Greg under their wing while doing charity work, and Greg joined their loving family when he was adopted. He and his siblings are also car enthusiasts with much more money and therefore better cars than Paul Appleton’s gang.
When they eventually find a connection, Paul fights his feelings and tries to convince himself his lover is only a temporary bit of fun, but Greg has other ideas.
Paul Appleton is a troubled man who has never been in a relationship, having lost everyone he cared for in his life. His mother died when he was very young and subsequently, he lost his brother and his best friend. Now Paul is convinced love will always end in tears.
Greg was living on the streets after his parents died and was stabbed by a junkie, ending up in hospital. The Buchanans took Greg under their wing while doing charity work, and Greg joined their loving family when he was adopted. He and his siblings are also car enthusiasts with much more money and therefore better cars than Paul Appleton’s gang.
When they eventually find a connection, Paul fights his feelings and tries to convince himself his lover is only a temporary bit of fun, but Greg has other ideas.
300 pages, ebook
First published August 20, 2014
About the author
Louise Lyons
28 books64 followersI currently live in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, having moved from my home town of Grimsby in 2010. I come from a family of writers, although my Mum, Nana and Auntie have all written poetry. For me, it has always been fiction that drew me.Louise Lyons introductory photograph
It started with Mum’s old manual typewriter when I was eight years old – a story about a little girl and a pony, which at the time was my dream. By the time I reached my early teens, I progressed to romance although I still only wrote for my own pleasure. This quickly developed into primarily gay romance stories and when I discovered the world of Fanfiction, I gradually built up a large following in some fandoms.
Knowing that other people liked my work drove me to follow a new dream – to become a published author – which has finally been realised with Dreamspinner Press.
On this site you can keep up to date with all my latest news on my upcoming book and lots more about me, as I post regular blogs. Read my articles.Feel free to contact me with any comments or questions. I’ll always do my best to answer each and every one. Get in touch with me.
It started with Mum’s old manual typewriter when I was eight years old – a story about a little girl and a pony, which at the time was my dream. By the time I reached my early teens, I progressed to romance although I still only wrote for my own pleasure. This quickly developed into primarily gay romance stories and when I discovered the world of Fanfiction, I gradually built up a large following in some fandoms.
Knowing that other people liked my work drove me to follow a new dream – to become a published author – which has finally been realised with Dreamspinner Press.
On this site you can keep up to date with all my latest news on my upcoming book and lots more about me, as I post regular blogs. Read my articles.Feel free to contact me with any comments or questions. I’ll always do my best to answer each and every one. Get in touch with me.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 9, 2017
3.5 to 4 Stars
I’ve got to say, there were many things I liked about this. I thought this was going to be about street gangs and violence, but really it’s about people who love cars and racing, where two groups have a rivalry (of jealousy and one upmanship) with each other.
Hothead and perpetual fuck up, Paul can’t seem to get his shit together. He lashes out rather than thinking things through, until tragedy strikes and gives him the opportunity to turn his life around. A chance meet with “the enemy” Greg, who was involved in said tragedy, starts something neither could’ve predicted. Scared of intimacy and letting his guard down, Paul struggles with his natural inclination to shut everyone out. Greg is a heady mix of lust and affection, something that he just can’t get enough of.
Both these two have quite the tragic pasts and both of them are in the closet, afraid of losing friends and family should the truth come out. What should’ve never worked, does, as they take one step forward, then two steps back. Paul never does seconds, but try as he might, he finds himself opening up to Greg like never before. Greg is tired of one-offs, and yearns for a more meaningful relationship, finding Paul intriguing despite his attitude.
As maybe a small warning, this was a long book - simply about two blokes falling in love. However, I liked the slow progression. Wellllll, not slow in the smex; their chemistry was immediate and hot! It’s more of a step by step look at how their relationship evolves as these two dance around each other, how they make some mistakes and figure things out, and once they’re in - they’re all in. There’s lots of smex in this (where I can see some getting tired of) but I was just fine. Lol. AND it was chock full of that angsty insecurity and doubt that I love. So again, maybe a little too long and a bit redundant, but still a great read.
I’ve got to say, there were many things I liked about this. I thought this was going to be about street gangs and violence, but really it’s about people who love cars and racing, where two groups have a rivalry (of jealousy and one upmanship) with each other.
Hothead and perpetual fuck up, Paul can’t seem to get his shit together. He lashes out rather than thinking things through, until tragedy strikes and gives him the opportunity to turn his life around. A chance meet with “the enemy” Greg, who was involved in said tragedy, starts something neither could’ve predicted. Scared of intimacy and letting his guard down, Paul struggles with his natural inclination to shut everyone out. Greg is a heady mix of lust and affection, something that he just can’t get enough of.
Both these two have quite the tragic pasts and both of them are in the closet, afraid of losing friends and family should the truth come out. What should’ve never worked, does, as they take one step forward, then two steps back. Paul never does seconds, but try as he might, he finds himself opening up to Greg like never before. Greg is tired of one-offs, and yearns for a more meaningful relationship, finding Paul intriguing despite his attitude.
As maybe a small warning, this was a long book - simply about two blokes falling in love. However, I liked the slow progression. Wellllll, not slow in the smex; their chemistry was immediate and hot! It’s more of a step by step look at how their relationship evolves as these two dance around each other, how they make some mistakes and figure things out, and once they’re in - they’re all in. There’s lots of smex in this (where I can see some getting tired of) but I was just fine. Lol. AND it was chock full of that angsty insecurity and doubt that I love. So again, maybe a little too long and a bit redundant, but still a great read.
December 5, 2014
Often when I (as an American) read a book written by a Brit, it has been Anglicized to a certain degree. There are very few words that are new to me after reading British authors for so many years. I must say that Louise Lyons did not make this one easy for me. Not that she should be expected to, but it was a shock to my system as I am used to being catered to. Damn entitled Americans! The locations and events and colloquialisms were all totally British. I kind of admire her for sticking to her guns and not making it more Americanized for her fans.
Ms. Lyons also knows a hell of a lot about cars. The only reason I knew the Capri to which she referred was a Ford product is that a friend with benefits in college had one. It was a Mercury Capri, but half a dozen and all that. It wasn’t sold for long in America (1971-74 and 1976-77). It later morphed into the ugly Mustang of the 1990s. So, she either had a technical advisor or, more likely, I am thoroughly impressed.
Paul and Greg are both members of their local motor-head community. They belong to warring factions, often competing with each other, but are both equally car-obsessed. Many such men aren’t accepting of those different than themselves. Re: gay. This ensures that both Paul & Greg remain firmly in the closet into their early twenties.
Both of our MCs come from almost comic book-worthy bad childhoods. I allowed myself to go with it, but some readers might be put off by how many stereotypical horrible things happened in the lives of Paul & Greg to make them into the damaged men they grow up to be when they meet. Their relationship continues to be plagued with clichés and worn plot devices. I won’t spoil the overall plot by listing them here, but rest assured there are plenty of them.
One thing Ms. Lyons does do really well is write sex scenes. In my opinion, this author is aware that she writes convincing sex, because she leans pretty heavily on it. To me, sex is used to move the plot along and to show the deepening feelings the MCs have for each other. Of course they are going to have sex way more frequently than just what we need in order to know what is going on in their heads and hearts, but we don’t need to read the details of every single encounter. A fade to black or six would have been a welcome addition to this book. I skipped at least half the sex, but what I did read was steamy and the emotions were well written.
Overall, Conflicted just wasn’t that complicated. It was okay, but I probably wouldn’t have finished it if I didn’t have to review it.
Ms. Lyons also knows a hell of a lot about cars. The only reason I knew the Capri to which she referred was a Ford product is that a friend with benefits in college had one. It was a Mercury Capri, but half a dozen and all that. It wasn’t sold for long in America (1971-74 and 1976-77). It later morphed into the ugly Mustang of the 1990s. So, she either had a technical advisor or, more likely, I am thoroughly impressed.
Paul and Greg are both members of their local motor-head community. They belong to warring factions, often competing with each other, but are both equally car-obsessed. Many such men aren’t accepting of those different than themselves. Re: gay. This ensures that both Paul & Greg remain firmly in the closet into their early twenties.
Both of our MCs come from almost comic book-worthy bad childhoods. I allowed myself to go with it, but some readers might be put off by how many stereotypical horrible things happened in the lives of Paul & Greg to make them into the damaged men they grow up to be when they meet. Their relationship continues to be plagued with clichés and worn plot devices. I won’t spoil the overall plot by listing them here, but rest assured there are plenty of them.
One thing Ms. Lyons does do really well is write sex scenes. In my opinion, this author is aware that she writes convincing sex, because she leans pretty heavily on it. To me, sex is used to move the plot along and to show the deepening feelings the MCs have for each other. Of course they are going to have sex way more frequently than just what we need in order to know what is going on in their heads and hearts, but we don’t need to read the details of every single encounter. A fade to black or six would have been a welcome addition to this book. I skipped at least half the sex, but what I did read was steamy and the emotions were well written.
Overall, Conflicted just wasn’t that complicated. It was okay, but I probably wouldn’t have finished it if I didn’t have to review it.
August 23, 2015
This is the first book I read from this author and I must say I liked it on so many levels. It is bitter-sweet and sexy at the same time and it as real as it can get.
I felt it could have been a bit shorter - at times I just wanted for a particular descriptive scene to end so I can see what's next. But this is just me, I generally like shorter stuff.
A great read for anyone who is into contemporary novels. It has everything in it - the loves-me-loves-me-not from both sides (which is absolutely cute coming from such tough guys), the hot scenes (you won't believe the poker face I had to pull while reading it on the subway) and the funny moments, and of course - the drama.
Highly recommendable!
I felt it could have been a bit shorter - at times I just wanted for a particular descriptive scene to end so I can see what's next. But this is just me, I generally like shorter stuff.
A great read for anyone who is into contemporary novels. It has everything in it - the loves-me-loves-me-not from both sides (which is absolutely cute coming from such tough guys), the hot scenes (you won't believe the poker face I had to pull while reading it on the subway) and the funny moments, and of course - the drama.
Highly recommendable!
April 2, 2015
I liked the idea of the story, the idea of the characters, the idea of their romance, but the execution left me cold :(
Especially in the beginning I felt rushed through the events without any real emotion behind the actions. The telling was very unmoving; I never felt like I was actually in Paul's head :(
Especially in the beginning I felt rushed through the events without any real emotion behind the actions. The telling was very unmoving; I never felt like I was actually in Paul's head :(
September 30, 2015
eh, it was fine. I liked the characters and story, but it felt slow. not enough to skip or DNF, but enough that I think an editor would have helped. I loved this author's short story and figured I'd like a longer one, but maybe I should stick to the shorts.
September 13, 2014
3 star review by Rooberta
I was intrigued by this storyline. It’s one that I’m not really familiar with. I thought I’d take a chance and read a new author regarding a subject matter that I wasn’t really familiar with.
Paul Appleton is this young man who has had such a shitty start at life. He was born to an abusive father, a beaten mother and a big brother who meant the world to him. He lost his mother and brother both and those losses have harmed him in that he won’t allow himself to love for fear that it’ll be taken away from him. Paul has been arrested multiple times and works in a warehouse as that’s the only place that would take a kid who didn’t graduate high school. Paul is the character that you really wonder about. However, the more I read about Paul, the more he drew me in. That he has this amazing group of friends that love and support him. He’s feisty, sarcastic, blunt and yet, he’s this really good guy. He’s just so angry and hurt and scared. I really just felt for him. Paul is also gay. Something that he’s known for years. He travels a distance from his town in order to sated that his desire for men.
Greg Buchanan is the adopted son of Duncan and Abby Buchanan. He’s got two siblings, twins Jamie and Janice. He’s loved and supported by his family. Greg’s life hasn’t been a ball of fun either. His parents were killed when he was 16 and he was left homeless. He got stabbed and was in the hospital when Abby found him and took him home. Greg is very humble and such a great guy. He works for what he has and tries not to let the fact that his family has money overrides his own humble beginnings. Greg is gay as well and hasn’t come out because he knows how his parents feel about that. So, he also goes a far away from his family in order to fulfill his desires.
These two young men love cars and they race them. They aren’t friends in the beginning. In fact there is a rivalry between the two groups that no one is sure how it started. The guys even fight at the beginning. I liked how these two guys start out. They were both in the closest and even the first couple of times that they got together, it was purely out of lust and not affection. I liked that they were both so scared of the other and what they were feeling. How even then, they couldn’t stay away from each other.
The secondary characters in this story were really great. They loved and supported our MC’s throughout this entire process. They were the voice of reason and helped them truly find their way to each other. They showed that our MC’s that they were so loved and cared for. That they shouldn’t have doubted that they’d been loved and cared for.
Overall, this was a really sweet story. I will say that the reading was a bit dry. I worked a bit to get into our MC’s head. The other issue that plagued me during this story was the timing. You’d be reading and it’d say a week past or the next time he saw him was the following week. I had no sense of time in this book. How long were they dating? What’s the timetable of this book? Was it 6 months? A year? I couldn’t get a grasp of the timing.
There was a fair bit of sex in this book, but know that the sex was non-explicit. The sex that was in the book was to show the growing affection between the guys and it did that. However, I just found that it didn’t work for me. I wanted more than the sex for them then the sex that they seemed to always be having.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews!
I was intrigued by this storyline. It’s one that I’m not really familiar with. I thought I’d take a chance and read a new author regarding a subject matter that I wasn’t really familiar with.
Paul Appleton is this young man who has had such a shitty start at life. He was born to an abusive father, a beaten mother and a big brother who meant the world to him. He lost his mother and brother both and those losses have harmed him in that he won’t allow himself to love for fear that it’ll be taken away from him. Paul has been arrested multiple times and works in a warehouse as that’s the only place that would take a kid who didn’t graduate high school. Paul is the character that you really wonder about. However, the more I read about Paul, the more he drew me in. That he has this amazing group of friends that love and support him. He’s feisty, sarcastic, blunt and yet, he’s this really good guy. He’s just so angry and hurt and scared. I really just felt for him. Paul is also gay. Something that he’s known for years. He travels a distance from his town in order to sated that his desire for men.
Greg Buchanan is the adopted son of Duncan and Abby Buchanan. He’s got two siblings, twins Jamie and Janice. He’s loved and supported by his family. Greg’s life hasn’t been a ball of fun either. His parents were killed when he was 16 and he was left homeless. He got stabbed and was in the hospital when Abby found him and took him home. Greg is very humble and such a great guy. He works for what he has and tries not to let the fact that his family has money overrides his own humble beginnings. Greg is gay as well and hasn’t come out because he knows how his parents feel about that. So, he also goes a far away from his family in order to fulfill his desires.
These two young men love cars and they race them. They aren’t friends in the beginning. In fact there is a rivalry between the two groups that no one is sure how it started. The guys even fight at the beginning. I liked how these two guys start out. They were both in the closest and even the first couple of times that they got together, it was purely out of lust and not affection. I liked that they were both so scared of the other and what they were feeling. How even then, they couldn’t stay away from each other.
The secondary characters in this story were really great. They loved and supported our MC’s throughout this entire process. They were the voice of reason and helped them truly find their way to each other. They showed that our MC’s that they were so loved and cared for. That they shouldn’t have doubted that they’d been loved and cared for.
Overall, this was a really sweet story. I will say that the reading was a bit dry. I worked a bit to get into our MC’s head. The other issue that plagued me during this story was the timing. You’d be reading and it’d say a week past or the next time he saw him was the following week. I had no sense of time in this book. How long were they dating? What’s the timetable of this book? Was it 6 months? A year? I couldn’t get a grasp of the timing.
There was a fair bit of sex in this book, but know that the sex was non-explicit. The sex that was in the book was to show the growing affection between the guys and it did that. However, I just found that it didn’t work for me. I wanted more than the sex for them then the sex that they seemed to always be having.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews!
October 11, 2014
REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE
4.5 Stars
As a reader I love reading new authors but as a reviewer I am always a little nervous. Louise Lyons is a new author to me and as a reader and a reviewer I loved this book. I was treated to a story that gave me two realistic and imperfect characters and a believable story that made me laugh and cry.
Paul Appleton is an angry young man with the weight of his very mixed up world lying heavily on his shoulders. He never thinks before he speaks or acts which lands him in a world of trouble but his remorse after the event is always genuine and heartfelt making him very easy to like. His biggest fear is love as everyone he has ever loved has been lost leaving him alone and hurt. His second biggest fear is people seeing who he really is and he plans never to share the fact that he is gay with his friends for fear of rejection.
Greg Buchanan had a very normal life until his parents were killed when he was just sixteen. Let down and lost in a system that failed him he ends up on the streets and unprepared for what life is throwing at him. When he is attacked and injured and ends up in hospital he is one of the lucky ones, not only does he make a full recovery he is taken home and later adopted by a wealthy family. His new family give him everything thing he wants, in fact he feels they give him too much, but he is worried that they may not give him their understanding if they find out he is gay.
The lives of these two men are already entwined through friends and jealousy and their hobby of car racing. They don’t even know each other, haven’t ever spoken to each other yet they are sure they hate each other. Their lives collide tragically at a car race where Paul once again reacts without thinking and is yet again left devastated by his actions when he finally stops to think.
So many differences yet so many similarities these two men find themselves in the same bar which is a well known hangout for gay men and end up doing a lot more than just having a drink together. They both have to re-evaluate their feelings and ideas about each other after that night and they discover they quite like each other’s company and slowly become friends.
There are all sorts of issues dealt with in this book. The fear of coming out, the fear of rejection, abusive pasts, bigoted parents and petty feuds but there is also love, compassion and finally a feeling of peace but it is a bumpy road with more than one hiccup.
4.5 Stars
As a reader I love reading new authors but as a reviewer I am always a little nervous. Louise Lyons is a new author to me and as a reader and a reviewer I loved this book. I was treated to a story that gave me two realistic and imperfect characters and a believable story that made me laugh and cry.
Paul Appleton is an angry young man with the weight of his very mixed up world lying heavily on his shoulders. He never thinks before he speaks or acts which lands him in a world of trouble but his remorse after the event is always genuine and heartfelt making him very easy to like. His biggest fear is love as everyone he has ever loved has been lost leaving him alone and hurt. His second biggest fear is people seeing who he really is and he plans never to share the fact that he is gay with his friends for fear of rejection.
Greg Buchanan had a very normal life until his parents were killed when he was just sixteen. Let down and lost in a system that failed him he ends up on the streets and unprepared for what life is throwing at him. When he is attacked and injured and ends up in hospital he is one of the lucky ones, not only does he make a full recovery he is taken home and later adopted by a wealthy family. His new family give him everything thing he wants, in fact he feels they give him too much, but he is worried that they may not give him their understanding if they find out he is gay.
The lives of these two men are already entwined through friends and jealousy and their hobby of car racing. They don’t even know each other, haven’t ever spoken to each other yet they are sure they hate each other. Their lives collide tragically at a car race where Paul once again reacts without thinking and is yet again left devastated by his actions when he finally stops to think.
So many differences yet so many similarities these two men find themselves in the same bar which is a well known hangout for gay men and end up doing a lot more than just having a drink together. They both have to re-evaluate their feelings and ideas about each other after that night and they discover they quite like each other’s company and slowly become friends.
There are all sorts of issues dealt with in this book. The fear of coming out, the fear of rejection, abusive pasts, bigoted parents and petty feuds but there is also love, compassion and finally a feeling of peace but it is a bumpy road with more than one hiccup.
September 26, 2014
Review by Karen, posted at ScuttlebuttReviews
I need to admit that I got to know Louise via her fan fiction before I read this book, and I was slightly nervous about reading it – but really I needn’t have been. Conflicted is a really touching and sweet love story.
Paul is troubled; his childhood wasn’t the best and he is quick to anger. He’s been looking after himself since he was a teenager. While he’s not in the closet, he’s not out either, so he lives in a twilight world where only his best friend really knows what’s going on. When he needs to connect he goes a bar and hooks up, never with the same guy twice. No sleepovers, no dates. His barely-controlled anger is palpable at the beginning of the book; he just hates.
Greg, despite having a worse start at life, happened on some luck and now lives with a wealthy family. He is more closeted, believing that his adopted parents won’t support him if he tells them the truth. He is the archetypal golden boy.
Paul and Greg are classic enemies-to-lovers, but time is taken to show that while damaged, they are not broken. Greg, more than Paul initially, is looking for more, he wants a relationship.
There is no insta-love here, they get to know each other gradually, and slowly begin to connect. It’s a classic case of ‘two steps forward and one step back’ with these guys.
Conflicted is full of warmth, the relationships that both Paul and Greg have with their family and friends are rock solid, which makes their struggles in actually telling them about their sexuality more real. They are not loners, despite being alone, and really care about the other people in their lives.
I really enjoyed this book.
I need to admit that I got to know Louise via her fan fiction before I read this book, and I was slightly nervous about reading it – but really I needn’t have been. Conflicted is a really touching and sweet love story.
Paul is troubled; his childhood wasn’t the best and he is quick to anger. He’s been looking after himself since he was a teenager. While he’s not in the closet, he’s not out either, so he lives in a twilight world where only his best friend really knows what’s going on. When he needs to connect he goes a bar and hooks up, never with the same guy twice. No sleepovers, no dates. His barely-controlled anger is palpable at the beginning of the book; he just hates.
Greg, despite having a worse start at life, happened on some luck and now lives with a wealthy family. He is more closeted, believing that his adopted parents won’t support him if he tells them the truth. He is the archetypal golden boy.
Paul and Greg are classic enemies-to-lovers, but time is taken to show that while damaged, they are not broken. Greg, more than Paul initially, is looking for more, he wants a relationship.
There is no insta-love here, they get to know each other gradually, and slowly begin to connect. It’s a classic case of ‘two steps forward and one step back’ with these guys.
Conflicted is full of warmth, the relationships that both Paul and Greg have with their family and friends are rock solid, which makes their struggles in actually telling them about their sexuality more real. They are not loners, despite being alone, and really care about the other people in their lives.
I really enjoyed this book.
November 12, 2014
This is a new author for me and I do have to say that this books had a new spin on a wonderful romance. It was slow to start, but felt very realistic in how the relationship develops.
Nice British touches, enough to make it distinctive but not so much that it would be off putting
This story revolves around two young guys who love cars, and racing them. At the beginning of the story, the two MC's aren’t friends, there is a rivalry between the two groups that no one is sure how it started. I really liked how these two guys start out. Both are in the closest and the first few times they got together, it was purely out of lust and not affection. I liked that they were both so scared of the other and what they were feeling.
I really liked the secondary characters in this story. It was wonderful how they all loved and supported our MC’s throughout this entire process. They were the voice of reason and helped them truly find their way to each other. Overall, a really enjoyable read.
Nice British touches, enough to make it distinctive but not so much that it would be off putting
This story revolves around two young guys who love cars, and racing them. At the beginning of the story, the two MC's aren’t friends, there is a rivalry between the two groups that no one is sure how it started. I really liked how these two guys start out. Both are in the closest and the first few times they got together, it was purely out of lust and not affection. I liked that they were both so scared of the other and what they were feeling.
I really liked the secondary characters in this story. It was wonderful how they all loved and supported our MC’s throughout this entire process. They were the voice of reason and helped them truly find their way to each other. Overall, a really enjoyable read.
September 5, 2014
Lovely romance, slow to start realistic in how the relationship develops.
Nice British touches, enough to make it distinctive but not so much that it would be off putting.
Really enjoyable, full review at Scuttlebutt (fingers crossed)
Nice British touches, enough to make it distinctive but not so much that it would be off putting.
Really enjoyable, full review at Scuttlebutt (fingers crossed)
November 23, 2014
Just re read this again and I need this to be a series now lol add In the hot bodyguards this can definitely work ! I enjoyed this book very much :)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews