A Twist and Two Balls (With A Kick 1) by Clare London at Jocular Press
Genre | Gay / Contemporary / Erotic Romance / Humor/Comedy |
Reviewed by | Lena Grey on 27-September-2014 |
Genre | Gay / Contemporary / Erotic Romance / Humor/Comedy |
Reviewed by | Lena Grey on 27-September-2014 |
Eduardo Mancini is going to be a star of the London stage and screen. Or that was the plan. His alter ego Eddy March hasn't got further than the chorus and a bit part in a TV series. His parents aren't supportive, his agent can’t place his particular skills, and he's finding it hard to hang onto his young dreams. Things go from bad to worse when he's late for an important audition, hasn't got enough money to pay the taxi fare, and is chased across the streets of Soho by the irate driver.
Eddy reaches what he believes is sanctuary - With A Kick, a store where ice creams are blended with alcohol and imagination, and where his friends can help him. But Nuri the taxi driver is persistent in his steady pursuit, above and beyond the money he’s owed. Despite their very different characters and background, Eddy and Nuri’s relationship goes from a complete unknown to a wary balancing act. There are still mistakes to be made, and hurdles to clear. And both of them have to admit that their life so far hasn’t gone the way they planned.
But maybe being caught by Nuri was just what Eddy’s career needed – both for his job and his heart.
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle.” ~ Steve Jobs
Little does Eduardo, of 'A Twist and Two Balls' by Clare London, know that not having enough money for his cab fare could lead to a new direction in his life. The cab driver, Nuri, is determined to get his fare and chases after Eduardo demanding that he be paid; but Nuri isn't pursuing him only for the money; he's attracted to Eduardo and wants to get to know him better. This gives him an opportunity to do so, which makes this cab ride very fortuitous for both men.
Eduardo knows he wants to be in entertainment, but acting hasn't worked out well for him. His parents are both performers—his father, a famous actor and his mother, a world renowned dancer. Neither of them give Eduardo the encouragement he needs, but he yearns to make them proud of him. Even his agent is putting him off by not giving him jobs. Eduardo is just not acting material, yet he doesn't want to give up; he can't admit that acting is just not for him. When Eduardo meets Nuri, he's at an all-time low. He's not expecting to find someone as gregarious, considerate, and as interested in him as Nuri is. He's a bit overwhelmed, but intrigued as well. Eduardo is an only child, with distant parents, so meeting Nuri's gigantic, close Turkish family is a little scary, but, at the same time, it is wonderful. The love they have for each other is amazing and the way they accept the fact that Nuri is gay and Eduardo as his boyfriend blows his mind. From the beginning, they treat him like a member of the family. They aren't pretentious. They are totally honest with each other and with Eduardo as well. He's not used to this kind of disclosure and it taken aback, but he is also delighted. They think Eduardo is funny doing his impressions of movie characters. Eduardo gets a new appreciation for performing, even though it's different from stage or movie acting.
Nuri starts out being a little scary, but when I realized his real motive for chasing after Eduardo, I began to admire him. From the beginning I saw the sincerity, love of family, consideration for other people, especially when I learned that Nuri had a law degree, but hadn't gone into practice because his family needs help and it involves having a flexible schedule which cab driving does. Nuri's family is everything to him, the most important thing in his life, even to the point of putting them ahead of his own desires. He doesn't tell Eduardo about his education at first and when a time comes where he can help Eduardo with the law, his motives are misunderstood; Eduardo takes it wrong and gets angry. He thinks Nuri is considering him inept at handling things himself. Nuri loses his temper which is so unlike him. After that, he stays away from Eduardo for a while, doing some soul searching and helping make things right legally, before proceeding with his relationship with Eduardo.
The characters’ imperfections are what give the story its flavor. I loved both Nuri and Eduardo. It was angsty and tense in places, yet humorous, charming, and witty in others. Nuri's family adds a lot of depth and character to the story. Being in their home is sometimes like being in a circus; it is confusing, but entertaining as well. I could feel the strength of the family flowing through their home. The theme, heavily woven throughout, reminds us that we should never giving up on our dream; if what we are doing isn't working, we shouldn't be afraid to reach out for something new. Life is too short to live with sadness and regret. I recommend this story to everyone who likes actors, humor, angst, large families, and never giving up on our dreams. Thanks, Clare, for the entertaining story.
DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by the author for the purpose of a review.
Format | ebook |
Length | Novella, 27000 words |
Heat Level | |
Publication Date | 28-August-2014 |
Price | $2.99 ebook |
Buy Link | https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-atwistandtwoballswithakick1-1606571-340.html |