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Archive for the ‘Contemporary’ Category

Diving In by Bru Baker

Posted in Authors: A-C, B+, Contemporary, Romance, tagged Bru Baker, Daily Dose, Dreamspinner Press on June 19, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

Title: Diving In
Author: Bru Baker
Length: 13,106 words (50 pdf pages)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: m/m contemporary
Rating: B+

Blurb:

Being the pool boy makes it easy for Max Jansen to ogle his long-time crush, water polo player Everett Caldwell. Never mind the fact that Max owns the company and is overqualified for the task of monitoring chlorine and cleaning skimmers. He’s just happy to watch his unattainable dream play—until one day Everett invites him over and suddenly Max is his platonic plus-one for everything from movie nights to racy industry parties. Then Max learns the one-time Olympian isn’t as straight as everyone assumes, and he isn’t sure how long he can hold out before his crush grows much deeper.

Review:

I haven’t read very many of the Daily Dose stories, yet, but I found the length of this one much more rewarding than some of the super-short stories that I did read. It gave a lot more latitude for the relationship to develop rather than just be a set-up to a relationship.

Max runs a successful family pool business, but insists on remaining the pool boy at the estate of a straight porn mogul, only so that he can watch the man’s son and his water polo team practice. One day he discovers that the pool needs some chemicals, but because practice is just starting he promised to come back in the evening to take care of it. To his surprise Everett has dinner waiting for him and invites him to attend the birthday party of his father’s current girlfriend (who likes ponies, Popsicles and pools *snort*). He also tells Max that he’s gay which shocks Max, putting an out of reach crush into close territory.

At the party, to avoid the crush of women hoping to score with the mogul’s son, they fake a threesome with another woman who works behind the camera and sneak off to watch movies. Soon the three are spending a lot of time together, and Everett seems to be using his relationship with Max to ease into being fully out to the world, which sits a bit wrong with Max, who doesn’t want to be used as a method to ease Everett into openly being gay.

I quite enjoyed the relationship between Max, Everett and Nikki. She was a good friend, one of the boys, and there was no jealousy, but she would take Max out drinking, they shared hotel rooms, they were just best friends. Given that Max always felt like a geek, it was nice to see him finding really fast friends. Because of the length of the book it gave time to see Max and Everett grow closer and besides Nikki, Everett was also a bit snarky, but confident in himself, even while mostly hiding his sexuality from his father’s business interests. It was also interesting to see a gay man who’s a photographer for straight porn. A career that doesn’t usually come up.

So I really enjoyed this one. It wasn’t overly angsty, but was nicely paced and I enjoyed the touches of humour such as the guys trying to work the gauntlet of potential starlets. Definitely one I would recommend.

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500 Miles by Parker Williams

Posted in Authors: V-Z, B-, Contemporary, Romance, tagged MLR Press, Parker Williams on June 18, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

Title: 500 Miles
Author: Parker Williams
Length: 12,000 words, 37 pages
Publisher: MLR Press
Genre: m/m contemporary
Rating: B-

Blurb:
Mark loves Jase, but will that be enough to bring Jase back from the brink after a devastating tragedy?

Since he was fourteen, Mark knew he loved Jase, his brother Eric’s best friend. As Jase and Eric leave for the Army, Jase leaves Mark something to hold onto, but when the two men are shipped to Kuwait, things change when Jase tells Mark he’s met someone. Confused and hurt, Mark is left to wonder what happened. Eric returns, but with devastating news – and needing Mark’s help. Can Mark help the man who broke his heart? Or will he let Jase push him away – for the second time?

Review:
This is the kind of story I can see being very popular with US readers. It has the right balance of patriotism mixed with a sweet romance and plenty of nostalgia for a time when audio cassettes were popular. The story begins with 14 year old Mark who is distraught that his brother Eric and Eric’s best friend Jase have joined the army and are about to be shipped out for basic training. Mark loves Jase and can’t imagine life without him but is comforted by a tape that Jase leaves for him. Over the months, Jase send more tapes until Mark is heartbroken to receive some bad news from Jase.

Whilst this wasn’t a perfect story for me, I did still very much enjoy it. In particular, I thought that the character of Mark was done very well. He’s a teenage boy full of emotions, especially his first love and his slightly dramatic flair fit well with a boy just growing into manhood and dealing with disappointment. His feelings for Jase were realistic and I felt all his joy and excitement when he listened to the tapes and all his crushing disappointment later.

The story is told in retrospect from Mark’s first person point of view and whilst this did the narrative a slightly stagey feel at first, I was soon drawn into the events on the page. Jase is less of a rounded character which is often a flaw in first person narratives and the biggest problem I had with the story was his feelings for the young teenager Mark. He claims to have been in love with him since Mark was 14, and I had to admit I found that a little creepy, given that Jase was 18 at the time. However, since the bulk of their time together happens when Mark is 18 and Jase is 22, I pushed past that and liked seeing how Mark was able to get through to Jase at the end of the book.

I said earlier that this book is patriotic, and it is, with its tale of young men going off to fight for their country and performing acts of great heroism and bravery. It is also a book about the difficulties of being gay in the military, although that’s only touched on slightly and coping with being apart from the ones you love. Mainly though, it’s a story of a young man’s love for his brother’s best friend. It left me feeling warm inside and is definitely a story for those who are looking for a sweet romance with a strong happy ending.

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Sage Advice by Susan Laine

Posted in Authors: J-L, B, Contemporary, Romance, tagged Dreamspinner Press, Daily Dose, Susan Laine on June 18, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

Title: Sage Advice
Author: Susan Laine
Length: 8,053 words (34 pdf pages)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: m/m contemporary
Rating: B

Blurb:

Piper is a ballet dancer who has lost his footing—literally. Now his dreams are shot and he’s depressed enough that his best friend, Sage, lures him into a night of drinking and games. Except the game is truth or dare, and they end up doing less drinking and more confessing. Hidden secrets spill out and brazen acts draw the two men closer as they discover what really matters: if they’re winners or losers in the game of love.

Review:

This is a typical friends-to-lovers story, but it worked quite well for me. Piper has been holed up since he found out his career is pretty much over and has told no one. However his best friend Sage is ready to drag him kicking and screaming back into the light of day and plans a game of Truth or Dare along with some alcohol. Piper is not happy with the state of affairs but agrees, even though he finds it difficult to spend time with Sage without focusing on his crush.

After some back and forth, Piper finally breaks and tells the truth about his leg leading to some friction as Sage had also lost his swimming career due to a freak accident, but they finally get it all out on the table. As I said, pretty typical of a friends-to-lovers story, but I appreciated Piper’s withdrawal and depression about his leg. Ballet was his life and it was over. I also liked how Sage was able to stop him in his tracks and make him remember that he’s not the only one in the world who’s had bad things happen to them.

I enjoyed the writing and there was fun light feel to the game with the smoldering tension underneath it all, combined nicely with the angst about a career lost. When you are in the mood for a feel-good story with some hot sex, it’s a good choice and was a refreshing read.

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Protection by John Amory

Posted in Authors: A-C, B-, Contemporary, tagged Daily Dose, Dreamspinner Press, John Amory on June 17, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

Title: Protection
Author: John Amory
Length: 5,761 words (24 pdf pages)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: m/m contemporary
Rating: B-

Blurb:

Jamie is an anomaly in the shooting world: a relative newcomer who became a leading contender overnight. He’s representing the United States at the 2012 Olympics, and people are drawn to him both for his marksmanship and the past he refuses to divulge. During his downtime in London, Jamie visits a gay bar and meets a chipper young man named Ben. Despite Ben’s heartfelt offer of succor, Jamie’s mounting nerves over the Games and his scars from the past threaten the new relationship before the night even begins.

Review:

This short story is less of a romance perhaps than a story of personal growth and moving on, triggered by an interlude with a strangers (perhaps hinting at more). The story is also told in an unusual manner, which may not be to the taste of some readers, but I tend to like rather unusual narratives. In this case Jamie tells us his story from the first person point of view, more of a narrative on his life to date, and the current activities happening in London are told in third person, and it jumps back and forth. I did find it kept it clear, with a “that was then, this is now” kind of feel.

After being attacked and shot, Jamie’s life was a mess. His therapist recommended a support group for bashing victims and when they tell him about a group they’ve formed to learn to shoot and thus win back some of their confidence, he reluctantly joins in. However, he’s a natural and the power of having a weapon and knowing how to use it, allows him to excel and make it to the Olympics in record time. The night before the opening ceremonies, he heads out to a gay bar where he meets twink, and ex-pat American Ben who actually recognizes him. After chatting, despite being neither one’s type, they go back to Jamie’s hotel.

While Jamie may have felt he’d taken his life back after learning to shoot, he really hadn’t. He’s been more or less celibate for years and he still gets a nervous twitch in his hand when stressed. However Ben’s carefree attitude and honest desire to just listen without pushing, finally lets Jamie take a step out of the past and really start to heal from his trauma.

The story is very short, and besides the narrative of about how he was attacked and his history with shooting, it all takes place in one evening. You can see the changes in Jamie though, from tense, closed off man, who tells himself he’s over it because he’s taken back his power, to someone who might truly be over it by opening himself up to a relationship, or the possibility of one. This could be seen more of a HFN ending. You presume they keep in touch and Ben is American so he could return to the US and Jamie, but I was more interested in Jamie and his story than them as a couple. Not that there was anything wrong with them as a couple, I just felt the important part of the story was Jamie’s growth.

So if you don’t mind trying a different narrative style and aren’t looking for a grand romance, but more personal growth, I think this is a good choice.

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Riding the Board by Cate Ashwood

Posted in Authors: A-C, C+, Contemporary, Romance, tagged Cate Ashwood, Dreamspinner Press on June 17, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

Title: Riding the Board
Author: Cate Ashwood
Length: 46 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: m/m contemporary
Rating: C+

Blurb:
Blake Emmerich arrives at practice, already apprehensive, to meet his new synchronized diving partner. When he sees Nick Freeman, Blake doesn’t feel confident about their chances. The day begins with Nick pushing Blake off the ten meter and ends with their coach cuffing them together to force them to deal with each other like the adults they’re supposed to be. Synchronized diving is about trust—how can you trust someone you can’t stand, no matter how hot you think they are?

Review:
Blake is having a break from synchronised diving after his partner of many years is injured during a competition. When his coach calls him back early he persuades Blake to give a new partner a go. The new guy is a famous individual diver, Nick, who is also a bit of a dick. Their first time diving together does not go well. Nick insults Blake and Blake just wants to walk away. In desperation, their coach chains them together for a week to force them to try and get on with each other.

I rather liked the idea for this story but in the end it suffered a little for its short length. The change between them hating each other to liking each other seemed too quick and I was left scratching my head a little at the complete personality change in Nick. One minute he’s an objectionable asshole and the next he’s a charming and cheerful man. There were reasons given for this, but that made me dislike Nick even more that he would treat Blake so badly over a bit of hurt pride.

The part that I enjoyed was Blake’s unwilling attraction to Nick. That aspect was handled really well with a delicious sexual tension that built through the story. I also liked the feelings that Blake has for diving. He love of the sport comes through strongly, so does his worry about his ex-partner and I wished that character had appeared in the story. Blake’s coach is another plus, with his no nonsense approach and his passion for seeing the good in the new partnership between Blake and Nick.

So whilst I didn’t like Nick very much, even after he stopped being objectionable, I still liked other parts of the story, especially Blake.

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Male Seeking Male by Kathleen Lee

Posted in Authors: J-L, B-, Contemporary, Romance, tagged Kathleen Lee, self published on June 14, 2013 | 2 Comments »

Title: Male Seeking Male
Author: Kathleen Lee
Length: 13,000 words
Publisher: Self Published
Genre: m/m contemporary
Rating: B-

Blurb:
He was just looking for experience. What he got was an unexpected romance.

When Greg’s best friend places a personal ad on his behalf, he doesn’t know whether to be angry or grateful. Though bisexual, he’d only ever been with a woman. But when his sexy neighbor across the hall answers his ad claiming to offer the experience Greg seeks, Greg jumps at the chance. Jack’s first sexual experience was a painful one, and he vowed to never hurt anyone the way he’d been hurt. So when Jack sees Greg’s ad, he knows he can give the man he’s secretly lusted after what he wants and leave him with fond memories. But as things heat up in the bedroom, a trust builds in their hearts. Now they must see past their differences and future plans or lose a once in a lifetime love.

Review:
This short from a new-to-me author had it’s good and points but overall the good outweighed the bad. It tells of Greg who, despite knowing he’s bisexual, has never been with a man, mainly because he hasn’t met anyone who took his fancy and also feels too old to start trawling the clubs. He’s also nervous about sex with a man and ideally wants someone who can be sensitive and gentle for his first time. When his best fried puts an ad in a local paper, Greg is inundated with unsuitable replies until he gets a reply from Jack who lives across the hall.

I liked the initial idea for the story and thought the author had done a good job in treading a fine line with Rachel. She could have come across as pushy and overbearing, and indeed by putting the ad in the paper she was interfering in Greg’s life. However, Greg’s reaction to the ad and to Rachel’s part in it meant that he was no pushover and also allowed us to see something deeper about their friendship, so I forgave that aspect. The set up was perhaps a little contrived and unrealistic, but I went with it and enjoyed the next part of the story a great deal.

The part where the story really took off was once Jack and Greg meet. There was a delicious awkwardness to their initial encounter. Greg was unsure of how to ask for what he wanted and Jack has past issues that made him cautious too. The first couple of encounters were steamy hot, full of sexual tension as the pair take things easy at first. I liked that there was also minor misunderstandings between them, but that they were both open to talking about those problems and moving forward. It really did feel like two men feeling their way into a relationship, starting to gain feelings for each other and recognising the obstacles to overcome.

It was a shame then that there had to be a scene where one character leaps to a incorrect conclusion and forces a separation. I was really disappointed that the story had taken this route as it was very out of character for that person and served nothing except to cause unnecessary friction. Even after the men were reconciled it still left a bad taste in my mouth, especially as the ending felt a little too suddenly concluded.

However, the middle section, and the development in the relationship between Jack and Greg went a long way in making this a story I may well read again, hence the reason why it’s snuck into a B grade rather than a C. It’s obvious that this author writes well and I shall look forward to further stories from her.

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Love’s Cabers Tossed by Ari McKay

Posted in Authors: M-O, B+, Contemporary, Romance, tagged Ari McKay, Dreamspinner Press on June 13, 2013 | 4 Comments »

Title: Love’s Cabers Tossed
Author: Ari McKay
Length: 17,693 words
Publisher: Dreamspinner
Genre: m/m Contemporary Romance
Rating: B+

Blurb: At the Coastal Carolina Highland Games, baker Martin Fletcher receives an unexpected visitor in the form of Fergus, Lyall McLannan’s escaped sheltie. When Fergus accidentally causes Martin to sprain his ankle, Lyall comes to the rescue, helping Martin run his booth at the Games. Unfortunately, Lyall doesn’t know a thing about baking, but he manages to avoid both disaster and Martin’s wrath by attracting patrons with his and Fergus’s showmanship.

Martin accepts Lyall’s invitation to stay in his RV during the fair, getting to know the lawyer-turned-Highlander he’s watched from afar. Martin is captivated by Lyall’s charm… and the tantalizing view of him in a kilt. Entranced by Martin’s dedication to his work and love for Fergus, Lyall sets out to woo him with starlight and bagpipe music, because he’s discovered opposites can attract and love can be found in the most unexpected circumstances.

Review: Lyall McLannan and his sheltie dog, Fergus, are the most popular every year at the Highland Games. Martin is a baker and owner of local bakery and celebration cakes business called Flour Power. Every year he goes to the games to set up a stall and sell his goods, even dressing the part (though quite toned down). And every year, from afar, he admires the gorgeous and outgoing Lyall with a real Scottish brogue. He never expects to meet him. No matter his fantasies, Martin is quite busy at the games baking and working his stall. This year is even worse — his assistants are busy with their cake orders back at the bakery, so he’s working the games all by himself.

When Fergus the dog shows up alone while Martin is baking and whines for a treat, Martin can’t help but fall in love with the dog and his antics. Like his sexy master, he’s quite charismatic and knows how to charm to get attention. And of course, Martin is surprised when Lyall shows up at his stall looking for his dog. Lyall has admired Martin from afar as well — no matter how Martin could never believe that he’d be attractive to the man who could have whoever he wants — and Fergus has given him the perfect opportunity to ask the man on a date.

The two get to know each other a bit that night over a pint in the tavern at the games, but a late night dog walk with a cat-chasing Fergus causes an accident that puts the Flour Power stall in jeopardy and makes Lyall feel incredibly guilty… enough to take the chance to spend the whole games with Martin, trying to learn to bake and getting to know each other at night under the stars and sleeping together in his RV.

The first thing you really need to know about this story is that… well, Lyall is almost perfect. I mean, he’s got the Scottish brogue going on, he’s incredibly sexy with muscles galore and wears kilts. And the way he cares for Martin is seriously swoon-worthy. He’s the perfect guy in a LOT of ways. And that bothers some people. I can’t count the number of bad to okay reviews I’ve seen for this story on Goodreads simply because people just can’t get behind the fact that Lyall seems too perfect. I honestly didn’t mind. I mean, it’s supposed to be a feel-good story, I think. Almost fairytalesque because the whole weekend is about fantasy. Everyone leaves their real personality and identity at home, and then once a year congregate together to be whoever they want to be. It’s a fantasy, and part of that fantasy is in having the perfect romance.

Granted, that leads me to the one thing that I didn’t quite like. I suppose maybe these authors didn’t want to keep the story going too far. That’s okay, I still really liked this story. But the story ends with a very shaky foundation for a relationship. The magical weekend is about to end and they’ve talked about how they’re going back to their real lives and who they are in the real world. And, they’ve talked about how different it will be if they try to have a real relationship in the real world. That’s a different story and exploring that would have made this story into a much longer novella. Still, part of me would have liked just a little more. Maybe one date in the real world to see if they could really make it of it all that perfection over the weekend was just a pipe-dream. In the end, they still don’t know each other that well, which makes my hopes for their future together really unsure.

So, the real question is if you have a problem with perfect characters. A lot of readers do. If you don’t, I think you should definitely read this one. Fergus the dog steals every scene he’s in! He’s adorable. Sadly, we don’t get to see a lot o

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Risking It by Posy Roberts

Posted in Authors: P-R, C+, Contemporary, Romance, YA, tagged Dreamspinner Press, Posy Roberts on June 12, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

Title: Risking It
Author: Posy Roberts
Length: 6,760 words
Publisher: Dreamspinner
Genre: m/m Contemporary YA Romance
Rating: C+

Blurb: August Farrell doesn’t have a clue how to go about finding a boyfriend. He’s eighteen, a high school senior, has barely been kissed, and the thought of flirting with a boy terrifies him. What if he gets punched? Or worse? It would be easier if he at least knew the rules of the game. Then during the state basketball tournament, August meets Luca Knutson, who flirts with him shamelessly, but is this connection worth it? Will August play it safe by sitting on the sidelines or take a chance on Luca and the freedom to love he offers?

Review: Though, technically, August and Luca are of age, the story is told from the point of view of August who is quite inexperienced and the content of the story is sweet rather than sexy. I’d definitely classify this as Young Adult.

Most people don’t know August is gay. It’s his last season on his high school’s championship-winning basketball team. Dylan, his best friend knows, but unfortunately so does Zane, another teammate who is also gay. And in the words of August, “Zane seemed to think they should just automatically hook up and be boyfriends or whatever.” Zane has become a bit of a bother, following him around and calling him “Auggie,” which really gets on August’s nerves. Zane just can’t seem to take a hint that he’s not interested.

August is interested in finding a boyfriend, though. He just doesn’t know how to go about it. Does he approach a guy? Someone whose gaze lingers? But how does that work, really? If he looks to see if a guy’s looking, what if he gets punched in the face and called a faggot? It’s exhausting, but August is naturally shy and just thinking about trying to flirt with a guy freaks him out.

Anyway, they’re preparing to play in the state championships. Over the course of their stay in the hotel with the other teams, August meets Luca, a cute boy from an opposing high school who flirts with August shamelessly. And better yet, they’ll be going to the same college in the fall.

This wasn’t a great story but it was really quite simple and cute. I think that it kindof masquerades as a simple story but in the end it really works because August is quite simple at that age. Of course, he’s confused and everything like all the other teenagers, especially about being gay and how that works, but his point of view is direct, to the point and simplistic in the sense that all he really wants is for their team to work together to win the championship and to figure out how to find someone to love and to love him back. That’s all he really wants. And rather than being confused and angst-ridden over the fact that he is gay, he’s more upset that he’s shy and doesn’t have the courage to make the next step with a guy. That’s why meeting Luca is so wonderful for him. Before August knows it, he’s found a guy who is obviously trying to pick him up and that he doesn’t really have to do a lot of work.

I liked this story. I felt that it really worked for a story that is only 6-something-k words long. Often, stories that short have trouble fitting in characterization and plot without feeling rushed and crammed. But, the simplicity of this story, and in a sense, the purity of August, work for such a short format.

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Thunderballs by Andrea Speed

Posted in Authors: S-U, B+, Contemporary, Romance, tagged Andrea Speed, Dreamspinner Press on June 11, 2013 | 3 Comments »

Title: Thunderballs
Author: Andrea Speed
Length: 24 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: m/m contemporary
Rating: B+

Blurb:
Luke Diaz signs up for an adult dodgeball league out of morbid curiosity and a love for a crazy movie. After all, sports aren’t his thing. Then attraction to the team captain, Shane Kinrade, keeps him from ducking out of tryouts, and Luke discovers he’s actually rather good at hitting where he aims. Along with his newfound ability, Luke considers the charming team captain to be right up his alley and luckily, Shane shares his interest.

Review:
This is one of the shorter stories in the daily dose and yet worked really well for me. This is mainly because as a short it was very well crafted with just enough characterisation to lift the characters from flat and enough to the story to satisfy without either cramming too much in or leaving me feeling I needed a whole lot more.

The story follows Luke, who in a moment of madness signs himself up for a dodgeball tryout. He arrives to find out that not only is he quite good at dodgeball but also that the guy in charge is gorgeous. Luke alternates between drooling over the guy and being annoyed with himself for drooling, but is delighted when it turns out that Shane is gay too.

As well as being well balanced in terms of plotting, this story had a genuinely likeable narrator in Luke. He’s a bit self-effacing but is also the type of guy to readily admit when he’s in the wrong. He finds the idea of grown men (and women) playing dodgeball a bit embarrassing but openly admits that he has a great deal of fun playing the game. I liked that the game itself is shown as being fun. There’s a competitiveness and desire to win, but that this tempered by a shared enjoyment and a lack of meanness. There’s no trash-talking here, just healthy exercise and laughter. It made me smile and I finished the story feeling happy.

The relationship between Luke and Shane is only just beginning when we finish the book but the camaraderie between them, the obvious desire and the shared interests left me with a strong impression that these were two guys who would last the course. I was also pleased that there was no tacky sex scene forced into the end of the story. It’s a chaste book, but that fit with the length of time the two men have known each other. It was still chock full of sexual tension, but of the kind which led to easiness and teasing and the promise of more. This meant that despite its short length this has been my favourite of the daily dose stories so far.

So overall, if you’re looking for a fun, lighthearted story with a very likeable narrator then this would be a great story to pick up and I’d highly recommend it.

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Snookered by S. Blaise

Posted in Authors: A-C, B-, Contemporary, Romance, tagged Dreamspinner Press, S. Blaise on June 10, 2013 | 1 Comment »

Title: Snookered
Author: S. Blaise
Length: 27 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: m/m contemporary
Rating: B-

Blurb:
When Paul Burnwix invites British tourist Neil Davis to play a game of pool, Paul doesn’t suspect there’s more to Neil’s bad playing until Neil turns the tables. Intrigued by Neil’s wit and unexpected skill, Paul issues a new challenge, and Neil suggests the stakes: his hotel room key—and all that it implies—or Paul’s public humiliation. What Neil doesn’t realize is that Paul is a pool shark at heart, and if Neil doesn’t spot the trap in their ultimate game, he’ll find himself snookered.

Review:
I’ll be the first to admit I’m not a huge fan of sport but there is one sport which I will watch if it’s on the TV, snooker. It’s a mainly British sport with some interest in the Far East too so I expect many of the overseas readers will not have a clue to its rules. I’ve spent many a happy hour watching the slightly soporific balls click against each other and marvelling at the sight of John Higgins’ bottom, so I was very pleased when I discovered this story, set in the worlds of pool vs snooker.

Paul is in the USA in a bar when he’s challenged to a game of pool by a stranger, Neil. He accepts and struggles a little at first with the unfamiliar game. It isn’t long before he realises that Neil might be scamming him, but Paul has a trick up his sleeve too.

For those readers who might be put off by the sport theme in this book, it is mainly about pool, not snooker, although snooker does feature later in the story. The story mainly deals with the interaction between Paul and Neil and I enjoyed their competitiveness and banter which gradually turns flirtatious. They get more and more outrageous in their flirting before moving onto Paul’s hotel. This first part really worked for me. There was enough in terms of character to like both men, but there were limitations, and these limitations meant that the second part of the story worked a little less well.

During this second part Neil decides to pursue the relationship, and whilst I don’t want to say too much and give away spoilers, I felt that it was a bit of a jump from a flirtatious evening together to a commitment to a long distance relationship. Paul even expresses his own doubts about this. This meant that the story ended with a HFN, but a tentative one at that. I personally couldn’t see how it would work between them so that soured the ending a little for me. I’d need a definite follow-up to be happy!

Having said that, it was great to see another story by this author whose contributions to the DSP advent calendars and daily doses always work well for me and I’ve missed reading her stories. Add that to the fact that she’s been brave enough to tackle a sport known mostly in the UK and this is still a story I would recommend despite the weaker ending.

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Brief Encounters

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Archive for the ‘Contemporary’ Category

Diving In by Bru Baker

500 Miles by Parker Williams

Sage Advice by Susan Laine

Protection by John Amory

Riding the Board by Cate Ashwood

Male Seeking Male by Kathleen Lee

Love’s Cabers Tossed by Ari McKay

Risking It by Posy Roberts

Thunderballs by Andrea Speed

Snookered by S. Blaise

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