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Mark Roeder

A Better Place Kindle Edition

by Mark Roeder (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.3 288 ratings

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A Better Place is the story of two boys from two completely different worlds struggling to find themselves amongst a whirlwind of confusion. Will the strength they find in each other be enough to overcome the hatred and abuse of others? The unlikely pair struggle through friendship and heartbreaks, betrayal and hardships, to find the deepest desire of their hearts.

Casper, the poorest boy in school, goes through life as the “invisible boy,” and Brendan, the captain of the high school varsity football team, has it all; muscles, money, fame, and popularity. So, when Brendan takes an interest in Casper, their friendship goes in a direction that no one would have ever guessed. The two boys share nothing on the surface, but underlying each boy’s reputation lies a yearning to be free, a yearning to find a better place.

Mark A. Roeder has written and published some two dozen novels in his Gay Youth Chronicles, a continuing series not only for gay youth, but readers of all ages and sexual orientations. Since the age of fifteen, Roeder has been turning out articles, columns, and novels, but for the last several years has dedicated his life to writing heart-warming stories about gay youth. He currently resides in Bloomington, Indiana.

Print length

332 pages
Language

English
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On Kindle Scribe
Publication date

March 12, 2011
File size

3772 KB
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Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004RZGYLI
Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 12, 2011
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 3772 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 332 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0595171761

Best Sellers Rank: #1,047,935 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #411 in LGBTQ+ Coming of Age Fiction (Books)
- #4,433 in Gay & Lesbian
- #6,302 in Coming of Age Fiction (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
4.3 288 ratings

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Mark Roeder

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Mark A. Roeder currently resides in Bloomington, Indiana and is a full-time writer of novels. He has published nearly 100 novels to date that are divided into separate, but related series. You can find out more about his books at markroeder.com, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MarkARoederAuthor/ and on Patreon.com: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8324548&fan_landing=true&view_as=public

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4.3 out of 5

288 global ratings

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Elisa

Top 100 Gay Novel: A Better Place by Mark A. Roeder

Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2011

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I went back to read this novel by Mark Roeder since, having read Masked Destiny, I learned some info about one of the character, Brendan Brewer, that let me think it was a nice and sweet love story; in a way it's and there is also a bit of "fairytale" feeling that makes it light, and on the contrary of Masked Destiny, there isn't any paranormal event, making it an ordinary, and in this case ordinary is nice, coming of age story.

Brendan is the most popular kid at high school, quarterback of the football team, handsome and friendly, for a very wealthy family that allow him to have a nice car and all the last fashion available, Brendan is even more fascinating since he seems unaware of his good looks and fortune. Brendan has also a secret, but not really something that is causing him trouble: he is gay, and in his openness and yes, lucky youth, he has already realized it and decided it's fine. Sure, Brendan is aware he cannot come out at school that it's not easy, but more or less, he is fine.

Not the same for Casper; he is the poorest kid at school, and even worst, he is abused at home; his older brother has more than once abused him and he is still doing that. Most night Casper sleeps under the open sky to avoid being alone in the same room with his brother. In his young mind, Casper associates being gay with being abused, and so, when Brendan makes a move with him, Casper is scared to death.

But as I said, Brendan is such a nice boy that Casper in the end is able to trust him; their newfound happiness is destroyed by Brendan's family and but the dramatic decision they take on their son's fate. Again Brendan will prove to be strong and with a self-consciousness that is rare in such a young man; he will maintain the promise he did to Casper to protect him, whatever it will take.

I preferred the first part of the story, until Brendan and Casper are trying to find their path in life alone; I found the last part, when Brendan and Casper go to live with Ethan and Nathan (from Someone Is Watching) a little too similar to what I guess is Ethan and Nathan's own story, almost a repetition. All in all, I think that, even if Casper is cuter and the one who needs more protection, even from the reader point of view, I think the best character was Brendan, I most of all loved how he is so open with his feelings and ready to love despite all the trouble it implies.

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kwriter07

Characters Searching For A Better Place

Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2013

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This is the third book from Mark Roeder that I have read, after "The Nudo Twins" and "Disastrous Dates & Dream Boys." Many of Roeder's novels are part of "The Gay Youth Chronicles," so I was already familiar with Brendan and Casper from reading "Disastrous Dates & Dream Boys." Those sections were my least favorite because it felt like the plot was being re-told far too often. Getting to read the actual story helps get more into these characters and their story.

"A Better Place" definitely is dramatic. Various tragedies befall both characters, including rape, "straight therapy," death of a family member, and the deaths of two other boys that plays a part of the story at the end. While some people found this to be too overdramatic and unrealistic, I actually enjoyed watching Casper and Brendan overcome this series of misfortunes. However, the one thing I would have liked to see was more character growth. After going through all these things, I would think Casper and Brendan would change in some way. It felt like Roeder was giving the message that true love can overcome anything, and indeed Casper and Brendan's love is unwavering once they become a couple, but it would have been nice to see them grow as humans over the course of the novel. Another problem I must address was at the beginning of the novel, when Brendan's infatuation for Casper's cuteness suddenly becomes love. The development of feelings felt way too quick, and then because nothing in their relationship ever sours (including a moment of near infidelity late in the book which is squashed WAY too quickly), their relationship doesn't seem to change much either. Essentially, change and growth could have really done these characters well.

One other complaint was that the boys who appear later in the novel, Ethan and Nathan are almost copies of Brendan and Casper, which didn't bother me too much as I read the story, but is just pretty unrealistic in of itself.

Still, I quite like Casper. The beginning scenes with him dealing with his abusive brother and absent father really made me feel for him. Roeder did a great job with his scenes. And as dramatic as some of the scenes were, I responded to the drama in sections like the Cloverdale Center.

After reading two of Roeder's other novels, I found this one didn't have the same focus on love/sex and the push-and-pull of teenage hormones. And the repetitive nature that plagues some of his sections weren't as prevalent here. I definitely felt the drama and extremity of the plot actually helped the writing. So even though I wasn't engaged as much as I was by "The Nudo Twins," I do prefer this novel to "Disastrous Dates & Dream Boys," and in spite of the pretty basic writing style (which I just believe is Roeder's style), "A Better Place" offers more writing strength than his other works I've read thus far.

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Top reviews from other countries

Kindle Customer

Very good story.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 10, 2022

Verified Purchase

This gives the background to Brendan and in Casper's story. I have read most of Mark's VHS tales and found that this tale fills a few blank
spots in the storyline. I always held a level of sympathy for Devon, given he was, an undeclared, lover of Mark and became jealous of Taylor who swept in. The devil of jealousy causing so much harm.

David Ford

Too good to be true

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 3, 2012

Verified Purchase

A better place was a well written and pleasant read. The story line was filled out enough to maintain your interest and you became fond of the central characters and wanted everything to turn out right for them.

The problem was they were just too good to be true and this stretched credibility too far. Teenage boys with raging hormones are unlikely to pledge undying love so soon in life and spend most of their time kissing.

The book made a pleasant change from semi-pornographic novels but a more realistic interpretation of real life would have made for a more believable read.

EBR45

An okay read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 21, 2010

Verified Purchase

I'm not overly keen on first person narrative and I do find swapping back and forth between the characters a little irritating - not helped when, towards the end of the book, two more characters were introduced into the mix.

That said, it was a nice enough read although I was very disappointed with the editing - there were a lot of (very basic) typographical and grammatical errors which should have been picked up - and that did detract from the pleasure in some part for me.

Kindle Customer

Not your normal romance

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 25, 2015

Verified Purchase

I overlooked this book several times as thought the story had been covered in other books, however I was happily surprised with the journey the two boys took. I nice and innocent relationship between two boys .

Thomas Simpson

Good story covering teenage gay life in USA an enjoyable ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 4, 2015

Verified Purchase

Good story covering teenage gay life in USA an enjoyable read. Unusual way of writing as the first part if double first person i.e. chapter 1 is told from Casper's (nickname) point of view, chapter 1 switches to Brenden's point of view, then each chapter alternates between the two boys. Part 2 has a third person Nathan for some chapters.

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Mark Roeder