About Something Beautiful
Written by Jenna Jones
223 pages / 81500 words
ISBN: 978-1-60370-410-6, 1-60370-410-8
Available file types - html, lit, pdf, prc, paperback
In this follow up to Jenna Jones' popular novel Chiaroscuro, Dune Bellamy and Micah Ferguson have become best friends. Between Micah's string of boyfriends and Dune's lovers, they have plenty to talk about, especially when a trip to Europe leaves Micah alone, while back home, Dune's first love turns up again.
After a brief fling in Paris, Micah returns home to an unhappy Dune, who's trying to fend off his ex's attentions. When Micah steps in, Dune starts to see his friend as something more, which creates a whole new set of problems. Dune's not sure he wants to ruin their friendship, but he and Micah agree to give it a try.
Micah has family problems to deal with, Dune has his ex stalking him, and the pressure soon comes between them, driving Dune back into the arms of the dangerous Gavin, who wants to control his every move. Can Micah deal with his sisters, and find a way to convince Dune that they deserve another chance? Something Beautiful is all about the family we chose, as well as the one we're born with, and if they're lucky, something beautiful will come of it for Micah and Dune.
Review
Alexa Snow, author of Sleeping Stone, writes:
Micah Ferguson is on the vacation of a lifetime with his boyfriend Lucas when things go very wrong. He's left to complete the trip on his own, and when he gets home, his best friend, Dune Bellamy, is there to meet him. It isn't until Micah realizes that his feelings for Dune run deeper than he'd ever imagined that things start to get complicated. When Dune's first boyfriend, long gone but not forgotten, steps back onto the scene, though, the situation goes from complicated to impossible -- or is it?
This novel, a companion of sorts to Ms. Jones' enthralling Chiaroscuro, is one of the best I've read all year. (Originally, I was going to read the first few pages just to get a feel for the story. I ended up reading the entire novel in one go without a break because I just couldn't step away from the screen. That's how powerful a story this is.) The characters are unusually loveable, their stories so vivid that it's hard to believe they aren't real people. It's a shame that they aren't! Ms. Jones weaves together a number of threads with skillful fingers; her writing is more than competent, it's inspired. This is a story that starts out good and becomes great. The ending is so emotionally satisfying that you'll want to go back to the first page and start all over again! This book couldn't come more highly recommended.
Sample
With the help of a guidebook and the sympathetic concierge, Micah explored Paris. He walked around the city and took pictures of interesting faces and shadows and corners. He found places to eat -- he knew just enough French to order coffee and a croissant, and bluffed the rest -- and little stores where he bought souvenirs. He went to a service at Notre Dame, watching wide-eyed as the congregation knelt and stood, and afterwards climbed to the top of the cathedral and took pictures of gargoyles and the view of the city.
Dune emailed him twice to ask what was going on and Micah only answered, "Nothing, I'm just enjoying the city." He'd tell Dune the whole story later, he decided.
On his fourth day, Micah went to the Eiffel Tower and climbed to the observation deck. He took pictures of the views and then stood for a while, watching storm clouds move slowly over the city.
I wanted to kiss Lucas here, he thought -- but wondered, too, if the view would have been more beautiful if Lucas had been with him.
His cell phone rang -- playing a few bars of "London Calling" -- and Micah flipped it open as he moved away from the other tourists. "Hello, you've got Micah."
"This is Stuart Huntsman," said the deep, British-accented voice on the other end. "I've been charged with checking up on you. Apparently your friends think you're in some kind of trouble."
"Hi, Mr. Huntsman," Micah said, ducking his head. Stuart was an ex-boyfriend of Micah's first boyfriend. Micah had met him a few times over the years and always found him overwhelming. Posh, was what Jamie had called him.
Stuart said, "How are you? You're obviously not dead in a ditch."
"I'm alive at the top of the Eiffel Tower," Micah said. "And I'm fine." He cleared his throat. "I mean, I'm in Paris and it's beautiful and I really love it here."
"Good," Stuart said. "Then I should tell Jamie -- what?"
"Tell him I'm fine and not to worry."
"Very well. I will. Goodbye, Micah."
"Bye," Micah said, and then said, "Mr. Huntsman?"
"Yes, Micah?"
"I'm not really okay."