"There's no protection from Reed's quick wit and ability to craft a winning and thoroughly enthralling love story."--Shawn Decker, AIDS activist, speaker, and author of My Pet Virus
"...A novella that is really true, sincere and open, without losing the romance...It doesn't give an answer, and I like that, even in the end, it doesn't explain who is wrong and who is right, the important thing is to cope and move on, always thinking positive to live positive."--Elisa, Elisa Rolle Live Journal
"4.75 Stars!...Quite a departure for Rick R. Reed who writes horrors and more recently, M/M romances. This book is not your typical M/M romance...Most of the story is a poignant plea for understanding to members of the gay community to treat their brothers and sisters who are poz, with respect and compassion...I think this is a book everyone should read with an open mind as it does give us some insight and perspective into the impact on both the mental and physical health of someone with HIV+...Kudos to Rick R. Reed for an excellent, albeit short look into this health crisis that affects us all globally."--Wave, Reviews By Jessewave
"5 Nymphs!...A Golden Blush Recommended Read!...Well-written, sincere and heart-wrenching M/M romantic sequel [to VGL Male Seeks Same]. While this novella is on the surface filled with Ethan’s bleak hopelessness; underneath everything, it gives hope for the future...I loved this story...So Mr. Reed, take my kudos for a job well done, and get to writing the next release."--Mystical Nymph, Literary Nymphs Reviews
"...One of the best aspects of Reed’s book is his unpredictability. Nothing is sacred and every possible topic can be tackled. Here the author takes the happy ever after ending from his first book and turns it on its head when one of the characters is suddenly HIV positive. From the panic at his initial diagnosis to understanding medication and costs, this emotional story shows the scary and realistic aspects often overlooked when HIV changes someone’s life. Well written with an intensity to the prose, this wonderful story shows the positive and negative elements associated with the first brush of HIV while showing it’s not the death sentence it used to be and happy endings are still possible."--Kassa, Manic Readers
"4.75 Stars!...A poignant plea for understanding to members of the gay community to treat their brothers and sisters who are poz, with respect and compassion. In the end the story does not give us all the answers between Brian and Ethan, which I think is quite appropriate; what it does give us is a picture of Ethan's state of mind from his first discovery that he is HIV+ and what this means to him personally...The writer does an excellent job of putting himself in Ethan's position...Kudos to Rick R. Reed for an excellent...look into this health crisis that affects us all globally."--Wave, Reviews By Jessewave
"5 Stars!...A follow-up story to VGL Male Seeks Same and is just as phenomenal as the first story...As always Reed isn't afraid to be upfront and as real as possible with his characters, even when it doesn’t reflect the character in the best light...It is not necessary to have read VGL Male Seeks Same prior to reading NEG UB2 as Reed provides all the background you need within this story but I recommend this first story as much as I do this one. Read them both--you won't be disappointed!"--Emily, Rainbow Reviews
"9.5 Stars!...Though it’s labeled romantic comedy on the publisher site, this sequel to VGL Male Seeks Same veers in a markedly more serious direction than its predecessor. The author bites off a heavy, important topic, and drops it smack in the middle of the sweet, romantic relationship he built in the first book. The repercussions reverberate into every aspect of Ethan’s life, changing his entire perspective from the very first sentence. It’s handled intelligently, eloquently, and most importantly, empathetically, as the reader glides through this smooth, swift read, hand in hand with the main character...His pain in this is so utterly real, it was impossible to dissociate from it. This is the short novella’s single greatest strength...I’m finding it hard to go wrong with this author. Each one just gets better than the last."--BookUtopiaMom, unique.logophilos.net
...A few words, bald and to the point, could start things. Ethan propelled himself forward, in both senses: he walked so he was standing closer to Brian, and willed himself to say the words gathered on the tip of his tongue.
“I forgot your birthday yesterday because I had bad news.”
Brian’s brow furrowed in concern and he began to reach out for Ethan. “What? What was it?” He was about to wrap his arms around Ethan, but Ethan stepped back just out of his grasp.
Ethan almost relented, seriously considering the prospect of procrastinating, just putting the whole mess off for another day when he saw the hurt expression darkening Brian’s feature as he stepped away from him, obviously not wanting to be touched. It was a first for the couple.
But Ethan knew what he must say next and almost without thinking, let the words trip off his tongue. “I went to the doctor yesterday.”
Brian’s face, if possible, became even more touched by pity and concern. It was breaking Ethan’s heart. “Are you okay?”
Ethan looked over Brian’s shoulder, toward the kitchen, steeling himself for the words that would come next. “It was a follow-up to my last check-up and—” Ethan bit his lower lip. Say it. Just say it. He let out a rush of air, on the tail end of which was the sentence: “And I found out, much to my surprise, I am HIV positive.” He returned his gaze to Brian, who stood stunned, mouth open and staring at him. Now that the words were out, it was a little easier and he continued. “My T-cells are at 380 and my viral load is around 12,000, whatever the hell those numbers mean. I just know they’re not good.”
Brian shook his head. “Babe, I’m so sorry.”
Ethan’s anger and hurt kicked in, suddenly, and with the force of a fire bursting into a conflagration. He had never experienced going from confusion and despair to rage so quickly. It was all he could do not to strike Brian, to punch the silly expression of concern stamping his features right off his face. How could you? How could you?
“Yeah,” Ethan said, a smile born of ire pulling up the corners of his mouth. “Yeah. You should be sorry. Did you just not tell me for a reason? Did you think maybe those few times we dispensed with a condom we’d just be lucky? Did you just get infected too? Maybe while you were with me?” Ethan spat the last words out, glaring at Brian, his breath quickened.
Brian shook his head. “Ethan, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, please. Don’t.”
“Can we just sit down and discuss this? Sweetheart, I’m so sorry you’ve had this news, but it’ll be okay. There are treatments—”
“Oh, don’t patronize me. Don’t try to placate me. And no, I don’t want to sit down. I don’t want to discuss this.” As rapidly as the rage had come, so did the tears. Ethan angrily batted them away, not wanting Brian to see. “I was hoping you’d at least be enough of a human being to tell me the truth. I was hoping you’d at least be a man and own up to the truth.”
“What truth?”
“Oh, come on, Brian. There’s no one else who could have infected me. As the song goes: it had to be you.” Ethan almost laughed as he imagined doing his best Harry Connick, Jr. impersonation and singing a few lines from the old standard. But he was afraid if he started laughing, it would turn giddy and breathless, hysterical, and would never end.
Brian shook his head and Ethan noticed his ruddy complexion had faded to ash. “I don’t think I am.”
“What? What don’t you think you are?”
“Positive. If I didn’t believe that, I never would have made love to you without protection.”
Ethan didn’t know what to say. A new, and even more sickening possibility dawned on him: maybe Brian was telling the truth. Maybe he was just as newly infected as Ethan…and that would mean there was someone else. That the fidelity he had counted on and prized was nothing more than a sham, another self-deluding lie he had told himself in his pathetic quest for connection...