Rush, by Nyrae Dawn, is an emotionally charged, poignant story of love, denial, labels, and learning how to be authentic with yourself, no matter the cost.  Either you sacrifice yourself and the wholeness of your soul, or pretend to be someone that you are not for people that don't deserve to be a part of your life in the first place. Ms. Dawn has created, not only a beautiful story of real life situations, but a book of lessons with consequences, and a tool which everyone should read, in order to come out of the darkness of ignorance and bigotry.  I have read all of Ms. Dawn's books, and this book is at the top of my list.  What a fantastic accomplishment for an amazing writer.

Alec and Brandon have been friends for years.  They are football players, though Brandon has a promising future with his abilities. He comes from a loving family, yet feels he cannot come out to them.  He is afraid of the friends he will lose by telling them his secret, so he keeps it to himself.  The only one he can be real with is his best friend, and love of his life, Alec.  Alec has not come out to his family, because they are mindless bigots, who would never accept him once he came out.  But, he would come out, if only Brandon admitted who he is to himself and told Alec he was ready. Brandon only associates himself as his title, "a football player," never reaching deeper to who he really is. He has always felt second best, because of a learning disability, and compared to his ultra-intelligent brother, Nate, to which education came easily.  He never had a chance, because he never allowed himself the right to be someone who deserved love and to be real.

These two go through struggles, back and forth, don't see each other for over a year and a half, until the day Alec gets a call that changes everything.  Charlie, (Charlotte) Alec's best girlfriend, calls and tells him that Brandon has had a tragic accident and needs him desperately, though he will not ask himself for anyone. Nate and Charlie are the only ones who know about the situation between the two, so everything is easy and up front. Brandon has never left Alec's mind or his heart.  The day that Brandon walked away from giving himself a chance to have a real live relationship, he took the not so easy road out, and left Alec heartbroken.  He would rather live in the dark shadows, that his life had been for so long, without real love, or the only man that ever really knew him or his feelings, inside and out.  Alec comes to help Brandon out of the dark, and the ride is one to remember.  There are a lot of ups and downs, just like real life. 

This is a fast paced, dual perspective, all around amazing chronicle of the lives of two men trying to be true to themselves and their love for each other, at a heavy price, but not heavy enough to deny them what they deserve; to be happy.  They just happen to be gay. All the characters are well rounded and add so much to this eye opening book. Since when is it a crime to be different, we are born biologically different?  Freedom is a given right.  It is time to step out of a comfort zone of denial, and realize that someday, your child may come to you and lay their heart on a platter before you. Will you give them the unconditional love that they deserve?  Or will you hide behind your stringent beliefs and/or religion, or will what others think and say be more important than your child's well being and happiness?  I say, my child will always come first, no matter what problem they come to me with, because they are my world. I will be proud of them for the human beings that they are, not the labels that society has rankled them with.  Kudos to you Ms. Dawn, for having the foresight and the guts to write this controversial, real life book, with so many life lessons for so many people.

This book was phenomenal, and it was heartbreaking.  The reader learns what it is like to live a lie, to lay in the dark contemplating the inner turmoil and self hate, secrets, lies, fear, anguish, and guilt for being alive.  I will never forget these characters or the fact that their lives have to be hidden.  They were not able to be whole, and they had to make a sacrifice of their lives, because they felt they didn't deserve to be here like everyone else.  I loved this book.  It will give the reader new perspective and hopefully, perhaps, compassion and wisdom beyond their current scope.

I give, Rush, by Nyrae Dawn, 5 Totally Lost, Anguish Filled, Poignant, Loving, Becoming Freed, Authentic Stars!!!

My first mm romance and though I liked it, it also isnt my cup of tea.

I think that Dawn did an amazing job at this. I love her writing style
The character building is extremely well done. 
The story line is cute. 
BUT I doubt that I ever will be an mm reader

I adore Nyrae Dawn and have read a lot of her books. I absolutely loved her Games trilogy. But this is my first M/M romance of hers so I was a little worried. I should have known better. She is an amazing author and does so well at writing the male perspective. 

I completely fell in love with Brandon and Alec. I felt so bad for them and all the struggles they faced just so they could be themselves and love who they wanted to love. Best friends falling in love is one of my favorite tropes, so this definitely worked for me. Loved it!!

I just couldn't see to get into this one.. it was DNF for me .. sorry