reviews_and_ramblings | Les Hommes, Vol. 1 by Christiane France

Strangers In The Night by Christiane France

How is the life of rich and beautiful? Pretty good it seems, even if shit happens also to them. And so Blaine Tyler, young business prodigy of the East Coast who was taking a vacation from life in the West Coast, ended with a selfish loverboy as a partner; Blaine knew that Colin didn't love him, but before they could straight up the things, Colin died in a car accident, leaving Blaine with an huge sense of guilty: What if, is a constant question in his mind and he seems unable to find something to distract him.

One night in a up-class bar he meets Adrian: new in town and probably not for more, Adrian could be a good rebounding love for Blaine. Adrian is easy and free, a good listener and a very good lover. Blaine is not searching for commitment, not now, and Adrian doesn't ask it. But what started like a one night stand, it becomes for both of them the real thing.

The story is very short, less than 50 pages, and flows smoothly: everything is easy in this story, how Blaine and Adrian met, how they are so good together, how Adrian's work brings new inspiration to Blaine. Also their life, despite Blaine's past bad experience, are easy: wealthy and healthy, Bliane and Adrian are very similar, and there is not really a dominant partner: after Blaine overcomes his sense of guilty (and he was ready to do that even before meeting Adrian), they are on the same level, in life and sex.

For my first taste of Christiane France's work, it's quite good, even if in story this short, I can't really have a whole opinion on the characters... but I like the setting and the insight in this glossy world.

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

This Time For Keeps by Christiane France

Josh and Pete were together ten years before they split. Both former fashion models they have the hot temper of the spoilt star, always seeking the center of the stage, but all in all they love each other. So Josh was very surprise when Pete, after one of their usual temper tantrum, left without a real reason. Wounded in his pride, Josh went abroad for a job and stubbornly waited for Pete to call. But Pete never called and after six months Josh comes back to find that Pete is dead, killed by two kids who are trying to steal his car.

Josh is almost in a stupor state, he can't believe that he will never come back home to find Pete, that he is gone for real. But truth be told, Josh is ready to try to patch his life together and move on, only that Pete is not ready... better Pete's ghost is not ready.

The story is really short, less than 50 pages, but it's quite original. And it's also more funny than angst: Josh is 100% faithful to the image of the spoilt model; it's true that he mourns the loss of his lover, but really not so much, he probably would find a way to rebuild his life, and maybe also another lover. And when he has the chance to be again with Pete, it's not that he is utterly grateful for the miracle, he simply accepts it like something due, like another gift to his good personality and charm; he even professes eternal love to Pete, he also wonders what could happen if he finds a new lover and Pete is still haunting his home...

I was picking this book expecting a sad and tearful story, and instead I read a funny romp.

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

Amazon Kindle: This Time For Keeps

Amazon: Les Hommes, Vol. 1

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