Rainbow Reviews

BOOK BLURB:
When high school teacher Tom Smith meets Kevin Bannerman at a gay club, he violates his own rule: one-night stands only. But when the weekend is over, he walks away, reminding himself that he lives a deeply closeted life for painful, compelling reasons. He keeps his secrets, his heart, and the cause of his crippled arm to himself, but almost immediately he bitterly regrets leaving Kevin.

Months later, while Tom serves as reluctant assistant director for his school’s production of Rent, he fears that the show’s same-sex love angle will somehow out him. Protests against the play begin, one of the student actors is harassed, and during a parents’ meeting, Tom encounters Kevin again. This time Tom can’t fight the attraction between them, and he and Kevin begin a tentative relationship. Within Rent’s message of acceptance and support, and as local churches oppose the play, Tom struggles to find the strength to admit one man into his heart.

BOOK REVIEW:
“Admit One” by Jenna Hilary Sinclair is a contemporary homoerotic romance.

Tom is a high school teacher in the bible belt in the Southwest where religion forms an important part in the lives of his town, Gunning. The only problem is that most of Tom's life is hidden from the community and especially the school where he works. You see, Tom is hiding that he is gay, and has separated that part of his life from everyone that he knows. His infrequent trips out of town are spent finding strangers to have mindless sex with until he meets Kevin on one such trip.

After their first encounter, Tom makes sure Kevin understands this is goodbye. The only problem is Tom can't forget Kevin, and by chance they run into each other again, which scares Tom into refusing Kevin again, much to his later dismay.

After Tom gets roped into assisting with the musical “Rent,” at the first meeting with the cast and their parents, Tom sees Kevin there. Kevin has recently moved to town to be near his daughter who is a member of the cast. Will Tom get the second chance that he thought he lost? Is Kevin still interested in a relationship with Tom? Is Gunning ready for this forward thinking show or is the show doomed from the start? Ms. Sinclair has created a story incorporating many issues that could occur in traditional towns. The idea of producing the show “Rent” could cause many issues that are brought up in Tom's school.

I was impressed with the way his observations of the students ~ especially Robbie who was cast as Angel, the drag queen ~ helped Tom overcome his fears. I loved watching as Kevin encouraged and pushed Tom to re-evaluate his life and what he could have if he opened himself to new possibilities. Thanks go to Ms. Sinclair for an incredible story.

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