Title: Sundae Surprise
Author: DC Juris
Length: 5,642 words (16 pdf pages)
Publisher: Breathless Press
Genre: m/m contemporary
Rating: C
Blurb:
Dean learns the true meaning of the words “playing with your food” when his hot and hunky roommate, Rick, interrupts his plans for some solo Sunday afternoon fun. Human sundae aside, Dean discovers a kinship with Rick that he never knew existed, and a basis for what promises to be a delicious relationship. But when Rick overreacts to Dean’s nonchalance after their first time, can Dean convince Rick that what they have is real?
Review:
This story starts on a humorous note, with Dean preparing for a little intimate fun with a melon. When his straight roommate and secret crush catches him, he’s shocked to learn that Rick has been lusting after him as well and is bi. They then have some fun with chocolate sauce, whipped cream and other sundae toppings.
I had a few issues with this story (apart from kinky use of a melon). These two men have been living together for three years, and when Dean says he didn’t think Rick would be interested, Rick claims he thought Dean knew he was bi. How would one miss that since Rick appears to have sex regularly with his girlfriends in the apartment. You’d think sooner or later he would bring a guy home if he was that open about being bi. It seemed a bit unbelievable that two best friends would be unaware of that little tidbit.
Also, Rick’s personality seems to change after sex. He changes from man-about-campus jock to pouting girl as soon as sex is over. I was rather shocked by his behaviour given how you get to know him during the sex scene and what Dean tells you about him. Also, there is a moment when Rick informs Dean that while they are now dating, he’s bi and therefore may need to have sex with a girl at some point. I was a bit confused here. I am not bi, but my understanding was that being bisexual didn’t mean you NEED to have sex with both to be happy, but that you could be in a relationship with either, thus doubling your odds of finding a HEA. Perhaps I’m off-base though and I can’t speak for a whole group of people. However, Dean didn’t seem thrilled with the idea and I didn’t blame him.
The sex scene was hot and different using food, but I think I didn’t feel connected to the couple because of Rick’s character being a bit all over the place. Dean’s on-going love from afar was well done, but personally I thought he could do better than Rick.
Ooh no. Not food and sex. One of my ultimate turn-offs! Sticky!
Your niggles would also bother me too, so I don’t think this is a story for me.
Really? Oh my, I learn all kinds of thing about people on here. LOL I don’t mind it, but I didn’t find Rick that appealing as a guy so it didn’t work for me in that sense. The melon scene was funny though.
Such a guy thing.
I was a bit confused here. I am not bi, but my understanding was that being bisexual didn’t mean you NEED to have sex with both to be happy
I’m used to people thinking bisexuals were sluts, but NEEDing to have sex with both sexes? That’s new! Bisexuals are happy in monogamous relationships all the time (as if you didn’t know this already.), and I’d expect nothing else (straight from the horse’s mouth).
That was my understanding Alex and maybe I misinterpreted something in the author’s writing. I believe the author is bisexual and since I’m not, I wasn’t certain about the whole situation. I thought I’d look it up to make sure and after demanding commitment, Rick says
“There may be a woman, eventually. Would you be okay with that?”
Dean pondered the question. He understood the draw of bisexuality; his sister was bisexual, and she had explained it all very well to him. He certainly would never ask Rick to ignore his needs, but he wasn’t sure how he’d feel to see Rick with another person, even if it wasn’t another man.”
It just stuck out for me as I read it.
Um, no. Not for me.
Certainly won’t be for everyone, the food bit was fun, although as Jen said, sticky sticky sticky.
He changes from man-about-campus jock to pouting girl as soon as sex is over.
Um, not for me either. Thanks for the info.
I found it a bit unusual that Rick admits he’s like that after sex with a man. But not after sex with a woman? Kind of a split personality thing happening that didn’t work for me.
Hi! Thanks for the review. I’m glad you liked the melon scene. I had such fun writing that!
If I can speak to a few points, since you seem to be a reviewer receptive to/okay with author feedback (which is rare, refreshing, and completely appreciated, btw) …
Yes, I’m bisexual. To clarify the whole “needs” thing… I don’t physically “need” to have sex with someone of the same gender. I mean, not in a sense of like a vampire, and I’m going to die if I don’t. LOL (Although that would make an interesting story….)
But I do feel that there is a portion of my life that is missing – connections with men (at least for me) are vastly different from connections with women. There is something about being with a man – a different feel, a different emotion, than when I’m with a woman. Being with a woman, for me, is about being THE MAN – being strong, in control, etc. But when I’m with a man, I can be softer – I can be the one being taken care of, not the one taking care. And yes, when I don’t have both in my life, as is the case currently, I feel incomplete and ungrounded – restless, as though I’m constantly searching for something. So in order for me to feel complete – and ultimately happy – I do need both a man and a woman in my life.
However, the situation for me is one woman and one man. I’m not with one and just dipping my wick in the other. They both live with me, share my life and my world, and we are all monogamous with each other, inside of our unit. And yes, it has always worked. We’ve only ever broken up for purely personality reasons – there’s never been any huge jealous rants or spats, and no one has ever expressed feeling left out/cheated on, etc.
I have a completely different mindset before/after/during being with either of them – not limited to just sexual encounters. When I’m with a woman, I’m quite confident. She has chosen me – there is something about me that has attracted her – made her pick me out of the sea of choices. I don’t worry. When I’m with a man, I’m very insecure. I’m constantly worried he’ll find someone more buff, more muscled, more adventurous, etc. So yeah, if he just flopped away and fell asleep after making love – I’d be extremely hurt, especially if it was our first time. But I don’t consider myself a “pouting girl”…which is kind of an offensive stereotype. Both genders pout/cry/get upset. Emotions are human, not gender specific.
But from Dean’s pov, he’s just thinking to himself that if being with a woman is something Rick really wants or needs – he cares about Rick enough to not put him in an “its all or nothing” position. He’s not thrilled about the idea – what guy would be right at the outset? He needs time to mull it over, but he’s willing to think about it. And he’s open to the idea b/c he is familiar with the emotions behind behind being bi, from his sister’s life.
But yes, in any event – honestly thank you for the review. It’s always interesting to see how things are interpreted, and how words have a way – when the emotion/meaning/intention behind them aren’t know – of turning into things you didn’t expect.
Thank you for your comments. It’s always nice to get clarity because as you said, words have different meanings for different people and how we interpret things can be vastly different based on our own personal experiences and ideas. I just had this discussion with another author yesterday. She meant X when she wrote something, but people putting their own experiences onto it read it as Y. The joy of humans and language.
You are lucky that you have found partners whose lifestyle worked for all of you. I have a feeling many people would find such a relationship complicated and less than rewarding, but that you have managed it and everyone is happy, then I salute you because relationships are always complicated and challenging, no matter how many people are involved.
Anyway, I appreciate you clarifying the issues that left me confused and while playing with their food may not be for everyone, it’s a fun read despite the sticky factor.
Thanks for this review. I find DC Juris to be an inconsistent author – some things I like, and others not so much.
I appreciate that DC stopped by though – the discussion was interesting and enlightening.
It can be very interesting to see where an author is coming from when they create characters. I have liked some of the author’s work a great deal, shorts can be challenging.