Rating: 
Summary: Should become a classic of gay literature
Review: Ronald L. Donaghe continues his �Common Threads in the Life� series with a novel that excels both as a family drama and as an action drama. Five years after the events of the novel Common Sons, Donaghe�s young lovers Tom and Joel decide to start a family. The struggles they face come from unexpected sources, keeping readers guessing at the next obstacles or solutions. Donaghe delivers what should become a classic of gay literature.
Rating:
Summary: A worthy successor to Common Sons
Review: The wait is over for fans of Common Sons itching to catch up with the 1989 novel's protagonists, Tom and Joel. In The Blind Season, Ronald Donaghe has once again penned a highly readable novel, with all the hallmarks of the earlier work: suspense, humour, memorable characters and a sense of romance that is inexplicably rare in contemporary gay fiction.As others have noted, this is a real page-turner. Donaghe knows how to keep the tension ticking over, and I found myself reading snatches of the book in every available moment, whether it be on the bus or subway, or while eating breakfast. I just had to know what was going to happen next! To create THAT kind of suspense, an author has to create characters that one cares about, and Donaghe has achieved that feat overwhelmingly in this novel, introducing a gallery of distinctive and largely three-dimensional individuals. The most memorable of these is Margaret, the feisty lesbian owner of the Red Rooster cafe, scene of many important moments in the novel. Margaret's own story is worthy of another novel in itself, and one can only wonder what Donaghe has in store for readers - a prequel, perhaps? (The Gathering, scheduled for publication in 2002, is supposedly the last novel in this series, but I for one cannot imagine Donaghe farewelling the people of Common at such a prolific stage in his writing career.) Religious fundamentalism is a theme that runs devastatingly throughout the book, and Donaghe packs a powerful punch with his stinging indictment of religious bigotry and persecution. Above all, however, it is romantic love that is The Blind Season's raison d'etre, and susceptible readers will find themselves reaching for the tissues at pivotal moments in the novel. Donaghe reveals himself as a true romantic, and a more convincing case for gay monogamy I have yet to read. Bravo once again, Mr Donaghe.
Rating:
Summary: continuing their story
Review: This book continues the love story of Joel and Tom which Ron began in "Common Sons". It's so wonderful to see the two of them in love, strengthening their relationship, and starting a family with their birth daughter(that's pretty interesting!!!) I'm hoping that Ron can continue their lives for those of us fans who need to know more. But he'll have a fantasy series coming out soon, "Twilight of the Gods", beginning with Cinatis, that also looks fantastic. Can't wait.
Rating:
Summary: continuing their story
Review: This book continues the love story of Joel and Tom which Ron began in "Common Sons". It's so wonderful to see the two of them in love, strengthening their relationship, and starting a family with their birth daughter(that's pretty interesting!!!) I'm hoping that Ron can continue their lives for those of us fans who need to know more. But he'll have a fantasy series coming out soon, "Twilight of the Gods", beginning with Cinatis, that also looks fantastic. Can't wait.
Rating:
Summary: Another winner from Donaghe!
Review: We are fortunate to learn more about the characters introduced to us in Common Sons - Tom Allen-Reece and Joel Reece. This time they want to be parents, yes gay parents, and the year is not 2001 but 1970 - a totally different mind set! Ronald Donaghe weaves quite the tale when old characters return and new arrive. Even though the characters are in their 20's, I can identify with what they are going through because unfortunately some people's opinion of gays has not changed since the 70's.
The story picks up five years after Common Sons ends and we witness as we see characters change, Tom and Joel's relationship get even stronger. This novel includes many real life situations that people can identify with whether gay or straight. Just when you think that you know what is going to happen, Donaghe surprises you! I couldn't put it down, as soon as I finished I began the next volume in the series - The Salvation Mongers! Run, do not walk to get a copy of this novel. A message to Mr. Donaghe: Please finish The Gathering ASAP because I want to read it yesterday!
Rating: 
Summary: At long last.
Review: We finally have the second installment to this promised series on Joel Reece and Tom Allen (Joel and Tom Allen-Reece rather.) As a big fan of Common Sons, I must say that I'm little disappointed with this installment. Somewhere in the forward to the book, the author expressed how he agonized over this one, and at the end having to scrap much of his work, start all over, and rush it into print. Well, unfortunately, some of that rushing really showed. The book is choppy, uneven, and in some places down right clunky. The prose just didn't flow. There was not nearly enough written about Joel and Tom, and far too much of just about everybody else. We're re-introduced to the boys five year later. Well, how did they fare in those intervening five years. We are told they didn't exactly see eye to eye about having a baby, how did they resolve that? I think I would much prefer reading about how the two 'settle' into domesticity and all the mundane stuff one experience in married lives after the giddiness of new love wears off. All in all, this was an ok book. It just didn't quite measure up to Common Sons. It makes me a little leery now of getting the third book in the series (published before this one, weird) the Salvation Mongers where I'm told right up front that it's not about Tom and Joel. Already, I'm disappointed about that.
Rating:
Summary: At long last.
Review: We finally have the second installment to this promised series on Joel Reece and Tom Allen (Joel and Tom Allen-Reece rather.) As a big fan of Common Sons, I must say that I'm little disappointed with this installment. Somewhere in the forward to the book, the author expressed how he agonized over this one, and at the end having to scrap much of his work, start all over, and rush it into print. Well, unfortunately, some of that rushing really showed. The book is choppy, uneven, and in some places down right clunky. The prose just didn't flow. There was not nearly enough written about Joel and Tom, and far too much of just about everybody else. We're re-introduced to the boys five year later. Well, how did they fare in those intervening five years. We are told they didn't exactly see eye to eye about having a baby, how did they resolve that? I think I would much prefer reading about how the two 'settle' into domesticity and all the mundane stuff one experience in married lives after the giddiness of new love wears off. All in all, this was an ok book. It just didn't quite measure up to Common Sons. It makes me a little leery now of getting the third book in the series (published before this one, weird) the Salvation Mongers where I'm told right up front that it's not about Tom and Joel. Already, I'm disappointed about that.
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