Double Bound

I eagerly awaited the return of Jeremy, Carlo and Arthur the day I finished Strings Attached; however, I never expected Nick Nolan to create such a captivating love story with twists behind every page. I read Double Bound over a two day period as I laid by the pool imagining I was in Brazil with Nolan's picturesque depictions of the sandy, white beaches, surrounded by those beautiful men. Even though my skin was getting baked in the sun, I could not put the book down due to Nolan's ability to leave you in suspense at the end of each chapter. I had to keep turning the page to see what was going to happen. I found myself gaining more excitement as I got deeper into the story and hoping the love would develop between the forbidden pair, yet the sorrow I felt for the man left behind. Although labeled as a "gay fiction", I felt myself, a female committed in a heterosexual relationship, able to connect with the characters and to understand what each was feeling, due to Nolan's brilliant writing. I am beginning to think Nolan is a straight woman trapped in a gay man's body. Double Bound not only fulfills the adventurous side of us all, but also the longing we have for that passionate love story usually only found in the movies. I cannot wait for the day to watch this novel come to life on the big screen.

Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (1/09) I have not had the pleasure of reading Mr. Nolan's first book, "Strings Attached," and feel that it might have helped me with the characters in this particular book. Mr. Nolan has a rich gift of keeping readers glued to his book from the very beginning. This is the story about Arthur, one of the characters from "Strings Attached." Having a checkered past, Arthur is trying to discover who he is and where he is going in life. Two past loves of his have died and he's not sure he will find that kind of love again. Meeting up with Katherine Tyler - an investor - puts him back in the life of a past lover and his now grown son. He is determined that he will not cross the boundaries with Jeremy, a young and confused about-to-come-out gay man, who is also the son of one of his past loves. Arthur, Jeremy and Carlo travel to Brazil to inspect an exclusive and rich resort that Katherine has invested in. While in Brazil, Carlo wants to try and find a family member who is sick and needing help. However, they land in the home of Dom Fabiano, a slick, handsome man who has other interests than the resort. The three men find themselves in trouble and Jeremy has been kidnapped. The author, in his description of the characters and their escapades, makes this book a fascinating read. You can almost feel as if you know the characters and are with them during this suspenseful journey. "Double Bound" by Nick Nolan is a story of greed and deception which will make you not want to put the book down.

Double Bound eloquently delivers it all-suspense, passion, mystery, romance, and drama. Nolan is ingenious.

Nick Nolan's sequel to "Strings Attached" delivers on telling a great story that continues Jeremy, Carlo and Arthur's evolution, and surpasses the prequel with film-worthy suspense, bizarre adventure, and emotional conflict. Nolan's fast-paced writing and deft gift for description are well implemented; this is another well thought out page-turner with just enough descriptive texture and nuance to bring the settings to life. The favelas of Rio - and the characters who inhabit them - were frightening, magical, and beautifully surreal-and still show up in my dreams. Arthur's challenging past and personal conflicts were especially relatable elements of the story. I easily identified with the character's torment, strength, and tenderness. "Double Bound" is an imaginative, sometimes dark, and sensually satisfying read that brings to mind movies like "Matador" and "Law of Desire"-two great films by Pedro Almodovar. I keep thinking that Almodovar - with his fantastic vision and flair for melodrama - would be the ideal filmmaker to take this story to the big screen. Let's hope someone sends him a copy.