1996: Phoenix, AZ. Braden Lloyd did not learn from his mistakes in "The Burning," but he sure knows how to run from them. Follow Braden across the west coast as he tries to escape the real damage that he did back in Richmond in 1995. While he is living with his lesbian aunt, he meets Johnny Salvay, a good looking guy around his age who is also into musicals and looking for something more than a one-nighter. Braden allows himself to become attached, and life just keeps getting better for Braden and Johnny. From Phoenix to Tucson, AZ and then to Fremont, CA, insecurity and jealousy still plague Braden, and he is reminded of Fagland at every turn. When Braden does something selfless and genuinely nice for Johnny's best friend, Scott Worth, his reward comes with a price. The climax of the novel takes place in Olympia, WA in 2001, when Braden falls into old habits and faces life-changing decisions. "False Start" stands on its own, but it is complemented by the first volume in the series, "The Burning." The books contain realistic depictions of the coming out process, first love, depression, rejection, questioning sexual identity, infidelity, and many other issues facing today's younger LGBT crowd.