Timmy's Review of At the Lake by Geoff Laughton

This was a bit of a light read. In a way, that’s a good thing, but also not such a good thing. Let me explain. One way I know I’m invested in the characters is by “feeling” their emotions. And, if I’m emotionally invested in characters, I normally find I enjoy the read more. On the other hand, if I’m not too deeply emotionally sucked in, I get a nice break from crazy roller coaster of emotions a deep read will put me through. If the story is a light read, then the story needs to be stellar to keep my interest. At The Lake had enough going on to keep me interested, but not so much that it weighed heavy on my emotions.

I liked the bit of back-story we get in the beginning, but not all of it was important to the story. I felt the author was almost trying too hard to make something of the back-story. I think more character building and a little less camp building (the camp was explained in detail) would have helped.

Once into the story, I did get hooked on Shane. I really enjoyed following his time at camp. He was good at what he did and was a great support to the campers. I liked how realistic he felt. I also liked that he had such strong feelings about the financial and status difference between him and William. That felt real to me. However, the author didn’t really follow through with that. It might have been a great opening into a small drama that could have helped the story. I also liked how Shane overcame his fear and learned to live with his disability. That is an important thing to have in a YA book. It wasn’t always easy for Shane, and it didn’t magically get better at the end of the story. It is something he will always live with and always have to work through. That felt very realistic to me.

William fell flat for me. I wasn’t able to invest in him at all. He was sweet and seemed caring, but he felt like he kept his distance from Shane. He didn’t feel there at the end. I would have loved to see William’s character fleshed out more. Perhaps more conversations between him and Shane might have helped so I could see what Shane saw in him. He had good qualities, but I really felt the story was more about Shane, and not the two of them getting together. I liked the story, and I would recommend it for a light weekend read. I give this story 3 marbles.~Timmy

At the Lake is available at

Harmony Ink Press, Amazon,

Barnes & Noble, and ARe/Omni Lit

About At the Lake

Shane Martinelli and William Houghton come from very different backgrounds. They meet at a high-end summer camp in the Adirondacks, where Shane works as a lifeguard to earn some money and begin saving for college. William is one of the guests, and he doesn’t want to be there. As far as William knows, his father only dumped him at the camp so he could spend time with his latest mistress. When Shane figures out William can’t swim, he offers to teach him. William enthusiastically responds, but when an unexpected storm blows in, William is caught in the water and Shane comes to his rescue. They barely reach shore before lightning strikes the dock—close enough to damage Shane’s hearing.

The following summer both boys return to the camp. Shane doesn’t let his use of hearing aids stand in his way. William is now a counselor-in-training. The attraction between them is undeniable, but how can they possibly make it work? Once camp is over, a week at William’s family home in the Hamptons will determine if the love that bloomed at the lake can survive in the real world. 

Find Geoff Laughton on Goodreads and on Facebook

Timmy's Review of Under the Stars by Geoff Laughton

Great story! I love the characters in this story and I really loved that it taught something you don’t find often in teen books. It teaches that you can love someone from a distance, and you can keep that love alive through the years.

Ethan was awesome, but there were times when he just sounded too old and gave lectures. Yet, he did give some very good advice which was insightful, and I think it's a good part of the story because it will help those who read the book.

Jason was very neat character. He was in a tough position and had a hard life. I loved the parts where he was teaching Ethan to ride. The author was so knowledgeable about horses, it really made that part of the story come alive. I felt I could get on a horse and ride it.

The ending was good but it felt a bit rushed. The only thing in the book I didn’t like was a character. Ethan’s best friend, George. He is a real ass and is not at all supportive of Ethan. I give this book 4 Marbles.~Timmy

Under the Stars is available 

in eBook at Dreamspinner/Harmony Ink Press,

in paperback from Amazon,

and in Nook & paperback from Barnes & Noble

About Under the Stars

Ethan Tanner is an out and proud, fastidious, and fashionable sixteen-year-old vegetarian who likes theater and musicals. This year, it’s his sister's turn to pick the vacation destination, so he ends up on a dude ranch he knows he is going to hate. What with the dirt, animals, and germs, he can’t possibly be happy.

Jason McCoy is the closeted sixteen-year-old son of the ranch owners and is trying to find his place in a world that doesn't seem to fit him. He takes an interest in Ethan, shows him around, and gets him to ride a horse. When he invites Ethan camping, Ethan thinks Jason must be joking. But Ethan takes a risk, and the two boys bond under the stars.

After that, Ethan and Jason are inseparable. Their friendship grows into something deeper as they begin to figure out what they want from life. But Ethan’s home is in Chicago, and the distance might be more than the two teenagers—and their blossoming relationship—can withstand

Find Geoff Laughton on Goodreads and on Facebook

Sunday, December 21st is the Final Date for Submission to the Timmy Awards!

The 2014 Timmy Awards will be announced on January 4th, 2015!
See ALL the Timmy Award winners here!

I will be giving out awards for the Novels and Short Stories that I read and reviewed during 2014 and the poems I've read! There are fourteen categories, and each work is only eligible to win in one category. Only the books I read or reviewed on Cody's blog in 2014 are eligible to win. Any story contained in an anthology will be considered a Short Story for purposes of this award, and will be considered separately from the anthology itself. If you would like a chance to win, you must submit your book for review no later than midnight PST on Sunday, December 21, 2014.

In addition to the category awards, each book will automatically be entered to win "Timmy’s Top Book of 2014" and "Best Cover Design"!

And the Categories are...

1. Best Short Story
2. The Short Story I would most like to see expanded to a Novel.
3. Most Inspirational Poem
4. Best Adult Book
5. Best Tearjerker
6. The Hope Award (story that will most inspire hope in kids)
7. Best Coming Out Story
8. Best M/M YA
9. Best F/F YA
10. Best M/F YA
11. Best Sci Fi/Fantasy/Paranormal
12. Story Containing the Most Realistic Characters
13. Best YA Series
14. Best Emotional Roller-coaster Story

Overall Categories:

Timmy’s Top Book of 2014

Best Cover Design

See you on Sunday, January 4th, 2015!

Timmy's Review of By the Creek by Geoff Laughton

This was a good read for me. There were many things I loved about this book and a few things that I think could have been better. First, let me tell you what it was about (without giving anything away). David and his mother moved to rural Michigan, where David is basically stuck out in the country with no car or friends until school starts. Because the story starts at the beginning of his summer break, that left a lot of free time. So after a few days, he goes and explores his new home and finds a creek. While at the creek, he runs into Benjamin, an Amish kid that lives in a community nearby. At first, Benjamin was not supposed to talk to David, (though he did anyway), until something happened to change that. Later they discovered they liked each other as more than friends and had to work to hide that. 

I loved learning about the Amish Community, and what it meant to be Amish. I always love books that teach me new things as I read. I even did more research after I had finished the book because I was intrigued by the Amish way of life. 

I also like that this book has a younger feel to it with older characters. There was some violence, but it was off page so you know it happened yet didn’t have to read it. That made this book a great book for younger teens who are looking to read books with older characters and without reading violence. I think the author did that very well in this book. I don’t know if his intent was to aim it at younger teens, but this would be great for them; and it’s a good read for older kids as well. So he expanded his audience by doing this. 

I like that there was a build up to the boys’ relationship. They were first wary of each other, then hidden friends, then not so hidden friends, until they became lovers. This gave it a more realistic feel for me being that one of the characters was from a strict religious background and community. 

Now, what I would have liked to be different in the book. Because this book spans a few years, daily life goes by fast. In real life, people, especially teens, change a lot in just a few years’ time. That didn’t happen here. There was some change in Benjamin, but David was the same kid through the whole book. We also lost a lot of action and were “told” how his life went. I like to read books that flow more like movies, where I “watch” (or am shown) the action instead of being told what happens. I do realize that that would be hard with this type of book because it would make it crazy long, but maybe a little more action would have worked. 

I feel the ending has left a spot for more to come and I hope there is more because we need more closure for these boys. I give this book 3 marbles. It’s a good read and I would recommend it to young teens.~Timmy

By the Creek is available at

Dreamspinner Press/Harmony Ink Press, Amazon,

Barnes & Noble, and ARe/Omni Lit

About By the Creek

Soon-to-be high school junior David Harper hates his family’s move to the country. There’s nothing to do, and he misses his friends in the city. But he doesn’t have a choice. His mother’s job is in Mason County now, so David and his mom are too, and he has to make the best of it.

At first, the only redeeming feature of David’s new home is the swimming hole across the field from his house. Then David meets Benjamin Killinger, and suddenly life stops being so dull.

Benjamin is Amish, and cooling off in the swimming hole is one of the few liberties he and his brothers enjoy. A friendship with an English boy is not—but that doesn’t stop him and David from getting to know each other, as long as it's on the neutral ground by the creek. After David risks his life to save Benjamin’s father, the boys’ friendship is tolerated, then accepted. But before long, Benjamin’s feelings for David grow beyond the platonic. Benjamin's family and the rest of the community will never allow a love like that, and a secret this big can’t stay secret forever...

Find Geoff Laughton on Goodreads and on Facebook

John Ames and Geoff Laughton bring you their Next Big Things! O.o

Get ready everyone! Look for Surviving Elite High's John Ames and By the Creek's Geoff Laughton to answer ten questions about their upcoming books on Wednesday, February 13th! Check it out!