reviews_and_ramblings | Calendar Boys 3: July, August and September by Jamie Craig

Vintage (Calendar Boys - July) by Jamie Craig

Alain is a two Michelin star chef in Paris. He spent almost all his life for his restaurant and he is very proud of it, but lately he is lonely. Almost fifty years old and without a man near him, he is tired of all the young twinks he has always sought. When he decides that he is ready for commitment only a man pops in his mind: his long time friend Simon, a retired English business man who lives in the French country two hours from Paris. And here is the problem: Alain is bound to his restaurant, he can't imagine to leave it forever, and Simon is content with his country life and hates the city. He only goes in Paris to visit Alain, and lately always lesser. But for the festivity of the 14th of July, Alain wants to surprise his friend: he will go to the country and he will propose to Simon... but if Simon is an harder conquest than expected?

The story is very interesting: two almost fifty years old friends who finally have the courage to admit that, if for so many years they manage to stay friends, when all the other men in their life disappear, maybe is since they have something more than friendship between them. But two "old" wolves are hard to lose their vices... Even if Simon seems the more steady and quite of the two, he is also a little grumpy, he is content with his quite country life and above all he fears to lose the only real friend he has: love could be a fleeting feeling, instead their friendship is very strong. But Alain has had a lot of time to re-think his life and he is sure that Simon is the right man for him, and his seductive powers are very good.

A very good story which manage to rebuild the right atmosphere of the lazy and wealthy life of a retired English business man in the lustful French countryside; it seems like you can savor the wines and the good foods Alain used to vow Simon, and you can also smell the flavor of their relationship; the setting is idyllic and the two characters really original.

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/CalendarBoysJuly.html

Amazon Kindle: Calendar Boys--July: Vintage
Publisher: Amber Quill Press, LLC (December 30, 2008)

Scorched (Calendar Boys - August) by Jamie Craig

Aaron is a mid twenty small town boy. He always did the right thing, he went to College but he came back to his hometown to tend his aging mother, he picked up an underpaid job to not have to move to a big city. He spends his free time helping in various association and he is also a volunteering firefighter. Always the right thing other when he fell in love with his brother's best friend, Xander. But Xander left small town for big city 10 years before and Aaron didn't expect to see him again. And now Xander is here, a real firefighter in town for all summer to help taming a big fire. Aaron tries to hide his real feeling for the man, but avoid him is impossible: how can he explain his sudden reticence to be near Xander, when 10 years ago he would pay to be with him?

What Aaron doesn't know is that Xander left town since he was gay, and life in a small town was impossible. He went to New York hoping for the true love, and instead he is still alone. He didn't regret the small town, if not for only one thing: Aaron. Ten years ago Xander didn't consider Aaron in a sexual way, he was only a skinny teen who tagged along, but now he is a very handsome young man, and Xander believes him wasted for the small town.

The story is sexy but at the same time homey. The love between Aaron and Xander is easy, being together is the simple part; but also when they have to decide if their was a simmer fling or true love, there are not so much problem. It's not the relationship between Aaron and Xander which causes trouble. It's more a problem of Aaron to admit what he wants and what he is and to face the small town judgement and his family. For one time Aaron should stop to be the good next door guy and he needs to be a bit selfish and reach out for his piece of heaven.

Nor Aaron or Xander try to bring along a pride battle. Xander chose years ago the anonymity of the big city who allowed him to be "free"; but with it he also found the loneliness. He is still a small town guy and a romantic at the heart; helping Aaron out from the small town is not only an unselfish act, he is, at the same time, filling a void he probably felt when he moved out, leaving behind family and his best friend, Aaron's brother.

The story is not very long, less than 90 pages, but with a right dose of eroticism and romance.

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/CalendarBoysAugust.html

Amazon Kindle: Calendar Boys--August: Scorched
Publisher: Amber Quill Press, LLC (December 30, 2008)

A Simple Truth (Calendar Boys - September) by Jamie Craig

Divorced gay man in the closet Charlie has always had a soft point for his best friend Bryce. Bryce is younger and handsome, and openly gay. When Charlie's son is old enough to understand, Charlie decides that it's time to coming out of the closet, and to tell Bryce the true. He is not expecting that Bryce is so comprehensive, and even offers to help Charlie to start dating again, this time in the gay scene. Since Charlie fears the loud and crowd gay clubs, they set out for a quite gay friendly bookstore, and Charlies gets lucky at first try. Problem is that Bryce is not so sure to letting go Charlie.

Bryce is a very nice character, a good friend and also unselfish. He always liked Charlie, but giving that the man was married and apparently happy, he contents himself with being a good friend. And when the man reveals the truth, he again puts his friend's desires in front of him. But being unselfish and being stupid are two different things, and Bryce realizes soon that if he allows to a fine man like Charlie to enter the gay scene, he will lose the man forever.

Charlie is a bit less nicer than Bryce. True he was just through a difficult phase of his life, but it was really his own choice to get married when he already knew that he was gay. And when he finally has the courage to coming out, and he is so lucky to have his interest in Bryce reciprocate, he doubts of his feeling and of those of his friend. I believe that Charlie should be more firm and strong in his behavior.

Anyway, the story is nice and good, with little angst and even some funny moment; the love story is simple and homey like a barbecue at home: pretty romantic and without really big obstacles in the path. A good example that sometime, when you are searching true love, is not necessary to go far from around you.

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/CalendarBoysSeptember.html

Amazon Kindle: Calendar Boys--September: A Simple Truth
Publisher: Amber Quill Press, LLC (December 30, 2008)