A gay teen, coming-of-age romance with spiritual and religious overtones that stands on its own, though the first part of a trilogy. 287K words / 498 pages Alex is turning sixteen, and he thinks he knows all there is about life, love, and loss. Sixteen is already a stressful age, but attending high school in one of Chicago's most affluent suburbs makes life that much more difficult for him. That Alex is one of the 'lessers' only makes it that much harder, as do the facts that he's a brainy dork, and gay. His best friend knows that Alex is gay, but none of his other friends do, not even the one that Alex has had strong feelings for since before meeting Toby over two years ago. He feels that he has finally come to grips with his sexuality, and has even known love, but after losing Toby to illness and death over the previous summer, he is unsure and afraid - what's the point of falling in love, if it's only going to be taken away, whether by an uncaring God or fickle fate? And now Toby returns, in a way. Alex isn't sure if he's going insane, or if there is more to life and death than he ever suspected. A very special gift on his birthday to deadly events that will change the lives of Alex, his family, and his friends, and deepen their ties together. They will all learn that there is much more to life and the universe than any of them suspected. Some things said about THE CIRCLE "As soon as I finished I went back and started over " "Alex and his friends are in my head I can't get them out and I don't want them out I want sequels Now " "The Circle did what a great story should do. I cried, I laughed, I smiled, I got angry, I loved it " "Late nights, late mornings, lost meals all attest to the magnetic almost hypnotic spell it held me in. Now that its over I don't know how to feel except as if my best friends all moved away " "Thank you for a long, complex story worth the time to read. The characters are believable, as is the story. It is full of emotions, from simple fun to the complications of love and hate. Well done " "Wow. What more can I say? Fell into the story and had to keep reading to the end to climb back out. Beautifully written, deeply moving. I laughed and I cried as I fell in love with the guys." "I thank you for writing it. I was captivated by the storyline and spent all my spare time in the last week reading it. I enjoyed every chapter, and I'm happy it was there for me to enjoy." "I am in tears as I write this. The story kept my attention through the whole thing. I couldn't stop reading and I felt so badly for Alex's pain. .... I wanted so much to reach through the screen and take it all away." "I don't think I have ever written an author of any kind before, but I can't resist complimenting you for The Circle, which has to be absolutely the most realistic, absorbing story I can remember ever seeing. It's one of those that you literally have to tear yourself away from " "I am practically overwhelmed.The more I read, the better it got. And it just got better, and Better, and BETTER I laughed, and I cried. I rejoiced, and I wept. Openly. And now that I'm done, I don't really have words to describe my ultimate feelings. Overwhelmed? Well perhaps; it's indeed a memorable and extraordinarily moving tale. Well done " "First off, I should say that I'm mad as hell at you for bringing to life Alex and his pals with such realism that I felt angry and upset when they were hurting. Alex and the guys are in my head now, almost like renters. I see them as clearly as my own reflection, mostly pointing and giggling like there's some immense prank about to be offloaded. Young, deep, fascinated by life and full of both wondrous imagination and emotional strength and wisdom drawn from common sense and an ability to embrace the truths of life without letting them overwhelm. And completely living in the moment, loving spiritually, sticking together. Pals."