Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Are second chances possible when the first chance never really happened?

Vince Rhodes has loved Cody Burrows for years, but he’s never been bold enough to ask him out. This wallflower is ready to make a move, so he enlists the help of James, the resident stylist at Dye Hard Style and unofficial matchmaker, to hook him up with his crush. Vince is betting it all on Cody giving him a chance, but will he?

 

Cody Burrows has admired Vince since they were both in high school. While he was the solid athlete unable to come out, Vince showed his rainbow proudly. Now they’re both older and wiser…and matched up by James. Will Cody allow himself to be free with Vince and find his heart’s delight or will he keep the barriers around his heart forever?

 

Maybe falling for Vince is just what Cody needs…

 

Book Review

This short book - (Q. Short? When does short qualify in a novella? Or even become an embarrassment in the gym locker? Apparently, the latter seems never to be permitted as an issue in gay lit!) - is a nice exercise for passing a little time. The characters, the plot, the tension of the denouement are all finely satisfactory.

 

And like a novella, this review will also strive to be sufficiently terse. While the blurb, above, tells potential readers just about what they need knowing for determining an interest, this review also piques questions about the critic’s approach. First, do I limit myself to only commenting on those books which are deemed noteworthy (?), or those concerning major current issues, or, for better or worse, are likely to be popular? Do I skip over minor offerings, or include even those engendering some negatives and risk ensnaring the literary innocent?

 

Too much to ponder!

 

Screw philosophy and let’s concentrate on entertainment. Vince is comfortably out, but somewhat reserved. His past relationships have been lacking, and so he is resigned to a quiet, introverted life. Cody, who was a popular, attractive athlete when he and Vince were in school together, has but lately come out. But Cody is far from typical of muscle-bound men found in gay lit.  He is drawn to “the quiet types. The sensitive men who like to read and could converse with him about music.” Unfortunately, he has always attracted shallow men seeking stereotypes. “The guys who come in here [the gym where he works] think I’m stupid. That I’ve got muscles for brains, not actual brains.”

 

The heroes knew each other in high school, bearing a totally secret (from each other!) crush. Now, a friend finally fixes them up on a date. This is the point when the reader can take comfort that they will find each other, engage in sufficiently descriptive sex, incur appropriate problems, and succeed through a dramatic crisis.

 

And so we are introduced to our heroes. Megan Slayer’s opening style is of a basic, declamatory meter most, better apt to YA fiction. [Not to worry, as we all were trained on to construction of Dick and Jane.] As the main characters become engaged with each other, the story’s style also gains verve, and is easy to consume.

 

The characters and their friends are nice folks. The villains are appropriately placed, for flavor. The yenta [matchmaker] will be rewarded as the hero of the next tome. In this volume, there are sufficient aphorisms that the reader may easily feel enriched: (i.e., “Guys can be cruel and it always seems to be the ones who aren’t happy with themselves who are the cruelest of all.’ And ‘We needed to go through what we have to get to this point. This is how the journey need to go.”)

 

Light and sweet – just as I like my coffee and sexy romance. Enjoy!

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review.

 

Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novella, 161 pages/40427 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	19-July-2022
Price	$3.99 ebook
Buy Link	https://www.pride-publishing.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=71625