Brief Encounters

Title: Rock Hard
Author: Vona Logan
Length: 11,188 words (58 pdf pages)
Publisher: Silver Publishing
Genre: m/m contemporary
Rating: B-

Blurb:

Dynamic and successful businessman Aidan Walker is hanging on for dear life, but knows it’s a matter of minutes before death will claim him. He despairs at leaving his sick sister behind and not fulfilling his dreams.

Professional gay rock climber Matt Raine shows up in a magnificent display of heroics. In those agonizing minutes of terror, Matt awakens something in Aiden that he would’ve never thought possible — the attraction to another man. During the days following his ordeal Aidan can’t stop thinking about Matt. He resolves to give Matt space to train for the world championship, until Matt pays him a naughty surprise visit.

Can Aidan accept Matt in his life or is the price just too high?

Review:

Aiden is out climbing when his rope fails and he’s left with only minutes before he knows he’ll plunge to his death. Just as he loses his grip, he’s rescued by a stranger, who then proceeds to flirt outrageously with him. Aiden is straight, but he strangely finds himself aroused by the things the man says, despite his serious injuries. The time they spend trapped on the ledge changes both men. Wild child Matt who can get anyone he wants, has decided he wants Matt and Aiden is open enough to wonder if he’s as straight as he always though.

He finds that Matt lost many sponsors when he came out and that causes some initial conflict for them when Matt finds him at work, as Matt doesn’t want “charity”, but Aiden doesn’t let Matt’s behaviour put him off. There isn’t much angst here. Aiden is pretty accepting of the fact that he may be gay. He spends some time thinking about it and decides he doesn’t care, he just wants Matt. He tells his friend very quickly and the friend is open and accepting, and when he goes to see Matt at the competition, Matt kisses him in front of the press and he’s fine with that. You’d think he would have been a bit more reticent, given that he’s never been with a guy and is a successful gym owner so you might worry about negative reactions, although it was kind of nice to have a change from the usual “oh woe is me, I’m gay” stressing you often get in these kind of stories.

One thing that kind of confused me, was Aiden’s sister. She’s in a coma following a car accident and there didn’t seem to be much point to her being in the story. Sure he “discusses” the situation with Matt with her, but she obviously doesn’t comment and she only comes out of the coma at the very end. There’s a bit of a whiff of love at first sight, although not in so many words, still, the description of him on the rock face waiting to die was really well  written and I did like Aiden and his logical analysis of his “gayness”. It was an enjoyable enough read, I’m just not sure it would be a story I revisit, but worth reading when you’re in the mood for something without too much angst.