Rainbow Reviews

BOOK BLURB:
"The Posers" is a series of two separate stories about love at first sight and playing roles.

In "Jackie," Jackson agrees to help his best friend get through a family holiday by posing as his girlfriend, and then meets the man of his dreams.

In “Mercy,” a former porn star agrees to help someone make their ex jealous by posing as someone’s boyfriend and finds he’s the odd man out.

Both Jackie and Mercy discover that true love accepts nothing less than the truth, and honesty begins with oneself.

BOOK REVIEW:
"The Posers" by D.J. Manly is two short stories about truth and true love.

In "Jackie," Karl has a problem. He told his family he was engaged to Jackie and was bringing her home for the holidays. The problem is he is gay and has never come out to his family. Karl talks, Jackson, his roommate into dressing as a woman and posing as his fiance. Jackson agrees only after Karl promises to pay him and takes care of everything that he will need for the job, but he still doesn't feel comfortable about the lie. Things start to get out of control when they arrive home and Jackson gets a look at the man of his dreams, Karl's brother, Booker. Karl meets his match when he meets Booker's friend Ian, but will the lie stand in their way of happiness.

I found "Jackie" an interesting story about hiding ones true feelings and the problems that snowball with the first lie. I enjoyed watching Jackson transformed into Jackie with the help of his friends. I was sad to watch how Karl felt he had to hide from his family.

In "Mercy," Rick Coates, a.k.a. Mercy, is no longer in the porn business, but most people only see him as his stage persona, so he pretty much stays apart from people. One evening, a young man, Ben, approaches Rick with a unique proposition, to play his boyfriend for the weekend when he goes to visit his ex-boyfriend. Rick decides to help Ben out, but he refuses to except payment for his help. Ben has always been enamored with Rick. Could there ever be anything more than fan and star between Rick and Ben? Will they find a way to reconcile their differences to uncover their true feelings?

Rick is a complex character with hidden needs for love and acceptance while showing the world his disdain for common relationships. It was sad how Rick sacrificed everything for his mother and in the end lost even her love. It was beautiful to see how Ben was able to look beyond Rick's fame to the truth that remained hidden behind his outward appearance. The love between them was poignant and beautiful to behold as it unfolded.

Thanks go to D.J. Manly for two wonderful stories full of love and a zest for life infused in his characters.

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