Brief Encounters

Title: My Secret Valentine
Author: M. Durango
Length: 3,900 words (16 pdf pages)
Publisher: Torquere Press
Genre: m/m contemporary (twincest)
Rating: B

Blurb:

Valentine’s Day seems like a greeting card holiday designed to bilk people out of their hard-earned money. That’s always been Jeremy’s take; but this year is different. Months after becoming lovers with his twin, Brian, Jeremy finds himself wondering just how this new aspect of their relationship changes things. In addition to battling his own insecurities, Jeremy might have to battle Brian’s sexy — and interested — study partner, as well. Will Jeremy and Brian work out their differences or will their first Valentine’s Day be over before it begins.

Review:

Brian and Jeremy are back a few months later following yesterday’s review of Dinner and a Movie. Things seem to be going well, but Jeremy is sure it’s only a matter of time before Brian will find a regular boyfriend and move on leaving him behind. However he tries to keep his insecurity hidden, but when Brian repeatedly brings home one of his classmates to work on projects and study, even a blind man would notice how Jeremy treats him, civil, but certainly not polite. Jeremy is sure that the guy is after Brian and when the friend invites Brian to a Valentine’s Day dance and he accepts (a group invite), Jeremy can no longer control his jealousy.

He’s sure it’s the end, and that he’s the one who will get hurt, so manages to avoid going home on the day of the dance until late, only to find Brian still at home and determined to get to the bottom of Jeremy’s behavioural issues. This one is all about Jeremy’s insecurity. He knows their relationship is wrong, in the sense that society will not accept it, he worries about their parents and friends and how long Brian will be willing to forego having a relationship with someone he can be public with. There is no question in Jeremy’s mind that he’ll go forever, he believes he is the needier twin which comes through very well, although you don’t get inside Brian’s head so you can’t be certain. While Jeremy tries to act one way, his brain is telling him something else and it comes through in surly stand-offish behaviour despite his efforts.

Of course once Brian gets to the truth, there’s a happy ever after of sorts with vows to be together for ever, despite the difficult. Jeremy notes that Brian seems to have taken to the whole situation much more easily than he did, underlying Jeremy’s worries. Sometimes twincest can come off as too “easy”, but there is acknowledgement that it’s not easy and you have to remain hidden. All in all, I found this a nice follow-up, and liked that I got to see Jeremy’s response to the developments that happened in the last book. For those who liked the other I think this is a good conclusion. I was satisfied with how it ended for the two boys in this one.