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Golden Gate Love Stories #2
Their Own Hidden Island
Monday, March 17, 2003
Dr. Robert Jenkins is nervous. He's been asked to meet with the two richest gay men in the world. They're a couple, in their early 80s, and they have a very important task for Bob: head out to the South Pacific and discover why a coral reef is dying.
On the way, Bob meets Mario Ossler who's the skipper of a boat that will take him on the last leg of his long journey to the middle of nowhere. Mario has beautiful green eyes, wildly untameable red hair, and an erratic personality to match his sexy good looks. Bob is leery of working with the big man who, at first, seems to be nothing more than an over-sensitive bully.
Just as they arrive at their dropping-off point, they discover that a typhoon is bearing down on their location. Deciding to ride out the storm in the harbor of an unchartered island, Bob is forced to deal with painful memories from not only his past but from Mario's as well.
Once the storm passes, the island begins to reveal its hidden secrets and turns out to be where real love finally finds a place in Bob's life and in his heart and in a way that is beyond what he ever imagined possible.
Golden Gate Love Stories are all about the lives and loves of men who fall in love with each other and find the one they were waiting for.
Set in the same universe as the Nick Williams Mystery Series, these love stories focus on the men who come together, find true love, and really do live happily ever after.
- GenresM M RomanceGayLGBT
202 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 12, 2017
11 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Frank W. Butterfield
123 books106 followersFrank W. Butterfield, not an assumed name, loves old movies, wise-cracking smart guys with hearts of gold, and writing for fun.
Although he worships San Francisco, he lives at the beach on another coast.
Born on a windy day in November of 1966, he was elected President of his high school Spanish Club in the spring of 1983.
After moving across these United States like a rapid-fire pinball, he currently makes his home in a hurricane-proof apartment with superior water pressure that was built in 1926.
While he hasn't met any dolphins personally, that invitation is always open.
Although he worships San Francisco, he lives at the beach on another coast.
Born on a windy day in November of 1966, he was elected President of his high school Spanish Club in the spring of 1983.
After moving across these United States like a rapid-fire pinball, he currently makes his home in a hurricane-proof apartment with superior water pressure that was built in 1926.
While he hasn't met any dolphins personally, that invitation is always open.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 9, 2019
This book takes place in the Nick Williams universe (The Unexpected Heiress is first in the series), with Nick sending Bob and Mario to a desolate island to investigate an environmental situation regarding a coral reef. While Bob is intrigued by the very attractive Mario with his wild red hair, he is confused by Mario's apparent hatred of him. They set off on their research boat into an typhoon, lose their engines and end up stranded near a tropical island for two weeks.
Before you can say "insta-love" the two men are sleeping together under the stars and "doing a number of things that would have made the fish cross-eyed if they could have seen the men doing what they were doing." We get Bob's POV throughout and I would have loved to gotten Mario's as well since for most of the book he is moody and uncommunicative and honestly, a bit of a jerk.
This story didn't really click for me - too much miscommunication and unexpressed emotions - and the romance seemed largely unexplored. 3.5 stars.
Before you can say "insta-love" the two men are sleeping together under the stars and "doing a number of things that would have made the fish cross-eyed if they could have seen the men doing what they were doing." We get Bob's POV throughout and I would have loved to gotten Mario's as well since for most of the book he is moody and uncommunicative and honestly, a bit of a jerk.
This story didn't really click for me - too much miscommunication and unexpressed emotions - and the romance seemed largely unexplored. 3.5 stars.
June 18, 2017
This is the intriguing story of Dr Robert (Bob) Jenkins who is sent on assignment to investigate why a reef is dying. When he and his skipper Mario Ossler are dropped off with Mario's boat near the reef, they are warned of an impending typhoon and take shelter in the harbour of a nearby island. The only problem is Bob and Mario can't stand the sight of each other. After the typhoon, Mario discovers the engines have been damaged beyond repair and they are stranded until their ship returns. What follows is the story of two men overcoming their differences and finding the magic hidden in their island.
This is a very well written and heart-warming story with some very original ideas. Definitely a five star read.
This is a very well written and heart-warming story with some very original ideas. Definitely a five star read.
July 4, 2017
This is a from hate to love story with a little magic and unexpected circumstances thrown in for good measure.Bob Jenkins is drafted to check on a dying reef and figure out what is wrong with it, has to have a boat to get out to the reef and Mario is the boat's skipper. Add in a typhoon, busted engines, and a magical island, and you have the ingredients of a really well written, unique and somewhat unusual story.The book is written from Bob's POV and though it might have been interesting to hear/read the situation from Mario's as well, I was not disappointed at all.
I provided this honest review in exchange for a copy of the book provided by the author.
I provided this honest review in exchange for a copy of the book provided by the author.
June 26, 2017
Their Own Hidden Island
This was a great read with lots of interesting characters, a heart wrenching love interest, and another story inside the story. Although this book was a little too clean for dirty minded me, I did enjoy the bitter-sweet love you got from the main characters. I would of enjoyed some of Mario's point of view but I think it added to the mystery keeping it with only Bob. If you enjoy a lighter fluffier read this book is for you!
This was a great read with lots of interesting characters, a heart wrenching love interest, and another story inside the story. Although this book was a little too clean for dirty minded me, I did enjoy the bitter-sweet love you got from the main characters. I would of enjoyed some of Mario's point of view but I think it added to the mystery keeping it with only Bob. If you enjoy a lighter fluffier read this book is for you!
December 4, 2017
Wow, Nick and Carter in their 80's - what a fascinating idea...
May 29, 2019
Their Own Hidden Island (Golden Gate Love Stories 2)
By Frank W. Butterfield
Published by the author, 2017
Five stars
Interesting, I think this book stands on its own better than the following story, “Chasing Eddie,” of which I just posted a glowing review. Why? Because the story is more independent of the Nick and Carter universe, even though they appear in the narrative. The plot of “Their Own Hidden Island” happens in real time – 2003 – when Dr. Robert Jenkins, a highly-reputed hydrologist, is called to the HQ of WilliamsJones in San Francisco, and given an important commission related to a damaged coral reef in the South Pacific.
The trick here is that the important task isn’t entirely what he thinks it is.
We are on warmly familiar ground here, except that Nick and Carter are octogenarians. Otherwise, they are the men we have known and loved since the late 1940s. As always, there are ulterior motives in their largesse, but Dr. Jenkins knows nothing of this until he finds himself trapped in a tiny harbor of a tiny island with Mario Rossler, the big, wild-haired redhead who seems ready to kill him or kiss him depending on the moment. Jenkins is a damaged soul, and doesn’t know what to make of the green-eyed Italian Viking. But Mario, for all his size and strength, is a sad, scared man.
Yeah, the coral reef isn’t really the point. And, for those who know Nick and Carter, the island begins to seem familiar, too. It is a brilliant, pulsing presence in this story, and surprisingly funny. More importantly, the second and third books of the Golden Gate Love Stories series give us critical details about the future (i.e. our present). Bob and Mario are important, even if they don’t know it.
At this point in reading Butterfield’s books, I realized that Nick and Carter could have been my friends. They were in their early fifties when I came out at 20 in 1975 and went to San Francisco with my boyfriend (now my husband of 43 years). We could have known them, and I’m pretty sure they would have loved us as they love all their vast gay family. Ah, but they’re not real. And that really breaks my heart.
By Frank W. Butterfield
Published by the author, 2017
Five stars
Interesting, I think this book stands on its own better than the following story, “Chasing Eddie,” of which I just posted a glowing review. Why? Because the story is more independent of the Nick and Carter universe, even though they appear in the narrative. The plot of “Their Own Hidden Island” happens in real time – 2003 – when Dr. Robert Jenkins, a highly-reputed hydrologist, is called to the HQ of WilliamsJones in San Francisco, and given an important commission related to a damaged coral reef in the South Pacific.
The trick here is that the important task isn’t entirely what he thinks it is.
We are on warmly familiar ground here, except that Nick and Carter are octogenarians. Otherwise, they are the men we have known and loved since the late 1940s. As always, there are ulterior motives in their largesse, but Dr. Jenkins knows nothing of this until he finds himself trapped in a tiny harbor of a tiny island with Mario Rossler, the big, wild-haired redhead who seems ready to kill him or kiss him depending on the moment. Jenkins is a damaged soul, and doesn’t know what to make of the green-eyed Italian Viking. But Mario, for all his size and strength, is a sad, scared man.
Yeah, the coral reef isn’t really the point. And, for those who know Nick and Carter, the island begins to seem familiar, too. It is a brilliant, pulsing presence in this story, and surprisingly funny. More importantly, the second and third books of the Golden Gate Love Stories series give us critical details about the future (i.e. our present). Bob and Mario are important, even if they don’t know it.
At this point in reading Butterfield’s books, I realized that Nick and Carter could have been my friends. They were in their early fifties when I came out at 20 in 1975 and went to San Francisco with my boyfriend (now my husband of 43 years). We could have known them, and I’m pretty sure they would have loved us as they love all their vast gay family. Ah, but they’re not real. And that really breaks my heart.
February 22, 2019
A departure from the normal time period - here we are in 2003 and while still alive Nick and Carter are somewhat less active. I stead the action centres on Dr Robert Jenkins, commissioned by WilliamsJones to look into the demise of a coral reef. Bob is sent to investigate, in the company of Mario as skipper of the small boat made available for use. Unfortunately a typhoon disrupts the plan and the small ship is forced to shelter in a harbour afforded by a deserted island. Initially uncomfortable around Bob when they are marooned by damage to the engines Mario grtadually opens up while they make do to survive while awaiting rescue. Exploring the island they find a mystery which Bob solves...
While he has issues of his own Bob has access to an advisor via satellite phone - and also to Nick. A spin-off series that promises to flsh out some of the supporting characters in the main books, this is a worthy addition to the range(s).
While he has issues of his own Bob has access to an advisor via satellite phone - and also to Nick. A spin-off series that promises to flsh out some of the supporting characters in the main books, this is a worthy addition to the range(s).
January 9, 2023
I am a huge fan of Frank Butterfield and the Nick and Carter Stories but this one fell flat for me. There was nothing of consequence in this story. The author created two characters that were hardly distinguishable from other men in Butterfield's stable of characters, and rehashed old tidbits from previous tales. The story didn't seem to be proofread very well, either. There were many typos and one paragraph that was extremely confusing and didn't seem to fit into the interaction between the characters at the time. Additionally, the purpose of the trip/expedition that the characters were supposed to make was never executed. They were sidetracked by the storm and never traveled to where they were supposed to go. Perhaps this "sidetracked adventure" was where "fate" wanted them to be, but it seemed cliche. IDK, this book - for me - was just so-so.
August 27, 2017
this was a sweet magical read.. very easy going.. i could tell what was next for the most part.. but i really enjoyed the writing and the characters.. it was amazing. and im glad i got to review it
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October 25, 2020🎁 The complete Golden Gate Love Stories (3 book series) is FREE on Amazon today (10/25/2020)! 🎁
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews