Conventional Wisdom by T.C. Blue

Recently I read another geeky/hunk story that didn’t respect the usual rules of romance making the geeky a willing bottom and the hunk an eager top. Conventional Wisdom is maybe on this line, but it adds also an element more, the Cinderfella factor.

Lucas / Bill (Bill is the name he uses when in incognito) is a tv fiction actor who was invited to a Sci-fic convention. He is not sure what to expect, and to add to a less than eager mood he has also had yet another confrontation with his family, who don’t accept his homosexuality. Plus Lucas, playing the heartthrob for the fans, can’t live openly his being gay and so he has no outlet, not in his private than public life; he is so repressed that it’s 2 years that he has not had a same-sex relationship, worst he has also had to fake a straight relationship for the media. So when Lucas meets Trent, openly gay and clearly willing, he is ready to accept the risk to have a weekend long affair in the hotel where the convention is held.

Trent is a penniless video store clerk with a passion for video game. He is gay, goth and cute but in a mousy way. He also has no idea who Lucas / Bill is, and sincerely it doesn’t matter: when the handsome man nears him in the hotel bar, Trent doesn’t think twice to grab the chance. There is a bit of Cinderfella here, with Lucas being in an hotel suite and Trent having to share a twin room with another friend: when Lucas is willing to share his suite with him, and above all his bed, Trent doesn’t look the gift horse in the mouth. And if Bill is a little reticent with his life and work, well, since he is not at all reticent in bed, even that doesn’t matter. Trent is not searching for the love of his life, yes, he maybe is a little bit dumbstruck with the situation, but he is willing to play along. I found endearing Trent’s behaviour, his outbursts of sincerity soon followed by a sudden blush when he realized what he has said, Trent seems to be a really friendly, nice and happy-to-go type of guy, not the usual mourning goth guy.

Probably the most interesting thing of the story, aside the sex that is good and nice, it’s the setting. Clearly the author knows about conventions and what happens during it, and having chosen to set the story in the Washington D.C.’s area helps even more in making all the situation realistic. The author also chooses to not give a clear answer on the eternal question “how can a public persona comes out without losing his fans”, maintaining the story more on a light level: yes, maybe Trent and Lucas are more than occasional lovers, yes, maybe there is even love between them, but all this will be cleared in a following moment, maybe with time and acquaintance, when they will be sure that it’s not only a weekend fling.

On a final note, I would be more than interested in reading Cindy Lou’s son story, since her mother was a very nice character.

http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&manufacturers_id=205&products_id=2093

Amazon Kindle: Conventional Wisdom

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle

Conventional Wisdom by T.C. Blue

Recently I read another geeky/hunk story that didn’t respect the usual rules of romance making the geeky a willing bottom and the hunk an eager top. Conventional Wisdom is maybe on this line, but it adds also an element more, the Cinderfella factor.

Lucas / Bill (Bill is the name he uses when in incognito) is a tv fiction actor who was invited to a Sci-fic convention. He is not sure what to expect, and to add to a less than eager mood he has also had yet another confrontation with his family, who don’t accept his homosexuality. Plus Lucas, playing the heartthrob for the fans, can’t live openly his being gay and so he has no outlet, not in his private than public life; he is so repressed that it’s 2 years that he has not had a same-sex relationship, worst he has also had to fake a straight relationship for the media. So when Lucas meets Trent, openly gay and clearly willing, he is ready to accept the risk to have a weekend long affair in the hotel where the convention is held.

Trent is a penniless video store clerk with a passion for video game. He is gay, goth and cute but in a mousy way. He also has no idea who Lucas / Bill is, and sincerely it doesn’t matter: when the handsome man nears him in the hotel bar, Trent doesn’t think twice to grab the chance. There is a bit of Cinderfella here, with Lucas being in an hotel suite and Trent having to share a twin room with another friend: when Lucas is willing to share his suite with him, and above all his bed, Trent doesn’t look the gift horse in the mouth. And if Bill is a little reticent with his life and work, well, since he is not at all reticent in bed, even that doesn’t matter. Trent is not searching for the love of his life, yes, he maybe is a little bit dumbstruck with the situation, but he is willing to play along. I found endearing Trent’s behaviour, his outbursts of sincerity soon followed by a sudden blush when he realized what he has said, Trent seems to be a really friendly, nice and happy-to-go type of guy, not the usual mourning goth guy.

Probably the most interesting thing of the story, aside the sex that is good and nice, it’s the setting. Clearly the author knows about conventions and what happens during it, and having chosen to set the story in the Washington D.C.’s area helps even more in making all the situation realistic. The author also chooses to not give a clear answer on the eternal question “how can a public persona comes out without losing his fans”, maintaining the story more on a light level: yes, maybe Trent and Lucas are more than occasional lovers, yes, maybe there is even love between them, but all this will be cleared in a following moment, maybe with time and acquaintance, when they will be sure that it’s not only a weekend fling.

On a final note, I would be more than interested in reading Cindy Lou’s son story, since her mother was a very nice character.

http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&manufacturers_id=205&products_id=2093

Amazon Kindle: Conventional Wisdom

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle

Razzle Dazzle (I Heart That City 2) by Willa Okati

The novella by Willa Okati turns around the setting of I Heart That City bar, a place where stories and life mix like the cocktail. I haven't read the previous story by Mechele Armostrong (it was an het romance), but this one is about Zach, bartender and at the same time philosopher of live; but as often happens, Zach is very good at giving advice to other people and instead is not so good to follow them for his own life. Zach is a runaway "lover", he abruptly dumped his live-in lover in Los Angeles without even gave him a reason and continued to run till he reached New York, where he is now living almost in stasis, waiting for something to happen. And something finally happen, since Josef, after giving Zach all the time he needs to think, is ready to claim again his lover.

The main reason why Zach left was that Josef was into the Master / pet relationship and Zach was not sure to be ready for that. Truth be told, Josef was not at all the domineering Master I ofter read in such relationship, he allowed Zach to have a life outside their home, to take his own decision regarding his work and similar, he only wanted for Zach to consult him and to wear an ownership collar in private. Put things like that I really can't understand why Zach freaked out, if not for the only reason that Zach is a really independent character who doesn't like to be told what he has to do... not really the right behavior to be a sub in a D/s relationship. And so the fact that Josef is not really a Master and Zach is not really a pet could be a good input for their relationship to work out.

I like the story even if it's really short. Both characters are enough developed to give me space to like them: Josef is a silent type, he is not a Master since he talks and behaves as a Master, he is a Master since his lover knows that Josef knows better than him what it's right and what it's wrong for him. Josef doesn't force any decision on Zach, on the contrary, he wants for Zach to arrive to the same conclusion Josef arrived, but with his own pace. Josef is also ready to admit his own mistakes, not in what he did, but in the time he did it: he was in too much of an hurry to "claim" Zach, he didn't give the man the time to realize that Zach wanted to be possessed. As I said Zach is a really independent man, but in a way he needs someone to drive him; Zach is always questioning his own decisions, he seems to have not a right in-sight in what he wants and needs, and he needs direction: so more than a Master that tells him what he has to do, he needs a Master who helps him to see the right direction and then lets him decide if he wants to take that direction.

There is not a strong BDSM component, both in the dialog than in the sex, so this story could appeal also those readers who usually don't like this type of relationship.

http://www.loose-id.com/detail.aspx?ID=903

Amazon: Razzle Dazzle: I Heart That City 2

Amazon Kindle: I Heart That City: Razzle Dazzle

Series: I Heart that City
1) Body Shots
2) Razzle Dazzle

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading+list&view=elisa.rolle


Cover Art by April Martinez

Polar Reaction by Claire Thompson

Claire Thompson brings a lot in this new gay romance: the "menage a trois" (fortunately with all male participant), the only "gay for you" attitude of one of the lovers, and finally the all too evident, but seldom faced, problem of the jealousy inside a menages.

Tuck is in love with Brendan: the first time he realized it was a year before when both of them where in a research camp with other researchers. But Tuck and Brendan had a special alchemy, something that Tuck finds again one year later when both of them are involved in another research project in Antarctica. But Brendan is straight, he even had a girlfriend or two in the past, and other than seems quite comfortable around Tuck, he never lets it go anything to allow Tuck to imagine that he is gay or at least curious. So now, their six week project is almost finished and once again Tuck is letting Brendan go without saying anything.

Enter Jamie, the young researcher in the same project with Tuck and Brendan. While Brendan is straight, and Tuck bisexual, Jaime is all gay; he doesn't flaunt his preferences, at least not inside his work, and till now he has only fantasize about Tuck and Brendan. They are both very handsome man, and for 25 years old Jamie it's impossible to not imagine an hot threesome between them. But probably he wouldn't do anything to make it happens, since as Tuck, he is not sure that Brendan could be interested, and even if he suspects that Tuck could be, they live and work in the same University town, and it would be embarrassing once they are again at home if things go wrong.

But fate plots to help all of them: a sudden snow storm traps the three of them in Antarctica, will all their fellow researchers gone. At first the charade plays only for two: Tuck and Jamie, the simpler pair, Tuck and Brendan, the romantic pair, and finally Jamie and Brendan, the unlikely one. Why this last pair is unlikely? Since where Tuck and Brendan are obviously in love, and so Brendan has at least an year to realize that he is interested in another guy, he approaches his interested to Tuck as something born from love; the "gay for you" definition applies correctly to this relationship, since Brendan loves Tuck despite Tuck being a man. And then the fact that Tuck is bisexual, in a way helps Brendan, since Tuck is not so "different" from him. Instead for Brendan to admit that he is interested also in Jamie means for him take a bigger jump: he is not only interested in a man, he is interested in a openly gay man and to worst things, he is interested while he is apparently in love with another one.

It would be not simple for the three of them to reach a balance, and strange thing, even if Tuck is the mainstay between Jamie and Brendan, who ignites everything and also who has the more active role in the menages is Jamie, the young one, the "freshman" in their work field, but probably the more experienced in dealing with a gay relationship. Tuck and Brendan have both nice roles, but for me the one who comes out better is without any doubt Jamie.

http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/polar-reaction

Amazon: Polar Reaction

Amazon Kindle: Polar Reaction

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading+list&view=elisa.rolle


Cover Art by Anne Cain

Edward Unconditionally (Common Powers 3) by Lynn Lorenz

The Common Powers series by Lynn Lorenz it's probably the only series were the paranormal powers of some of its characters are less important than the story, so less important that sometime you even forget that they exist.

Edward is a full flamboyant gay man from Atlanta. From a wealthy family, that maybe could not approve his "lifestyle", but would never let him live under their social status, Edward has never considered himself worthy of the love of a good man, and so he has always chosen the bad boys, but unfortunately not the "good" type of bad boys. When the last in a string of profiteers, clears out his bank account, Edward's mother, the one who manages Edward's money till his 40 years, gives him only one option: going in Texas and takes care of his ailing grandmother (a woman he has not seen in 15 years), while the scandal fades away in Georgia.

Edward takes his red sporty car, his Louis Vuitton matching suitcase set, his little bulldog named Winston (who has a matching wardrobe with his daddy), and drives as fast as he can toward Spring Lake in Texas, obviously infringing the speed limit and being halted by Jack, the handsome chief of police of Spring Lake. To 35 years old Edward, but with a behavior of a teenager, Jack appears as an unreachable man, handsome but too much older, and obviously straight. To Jack instead Edward appears like a forbidden fruit, someone he can't never imagine to have for his own in the small town where he lives. Maybe if Edward was more mainly, able to face the hardness to live in such a context... but no, Edward is lithe and gentle, screaming gay like a neon in the night.

Jack is deeply in the closet, and at 45 years old he has almost reached that phase in live when almost doesn't matter. He is not like so many other men, going in the city when the urge is too much, he has simply became comfortable with his quiet life and his loneliness. But first Winston and then Edward make him realize that he is not at all content with his life and that he wants Edward, and also Winston. Yes, since Winston is a very important character in the story, and I believe that the little dog recognized at first glance the right man for his daddy, and took the right move to be sure that the two got together.

Even if the book is very much focused on Jack and Edward's relationship, the sex doesn't arrive soon. And it's right like that, since it's not simple for Jack letting go years of conditioning and self-deprivation. Here maybe there is the only point of the book that made me wonder: there is obviously some secret in Jack's past, something that pushed him, in a good and bad way, to become the man he is now, but this aspect is not fully developed, remain something vague that we see only through some blurry image of Jack's memories.

On the other hand, Edward is fully developed, and I loved so much when he said that he wanted the fairy tale, for once in his life he wanted a man who loves him unconditionally, for who he is right now, without changing him... it's not only a desire for a dream lover, it's also the desperate cry of a rejected child. On the outside Edward seems sexy and funny, but he is for real a man with a desperate need of love. And Jack has so much love hidden inside, that he is obviously the right match for Edward, when he will decide to let it go.

The story is nice, it has obviously its funny moment, but it's mostly more romantic and sweet than light, and less erotic than expected, even if the sex you find, it's really good.

http://www.loose-id.com/prod-Common_Powers_3__Edward,_Unconditionally-913.aspx

Amazon: Edward Unconditionally: Common Powers 3

Amazon Kindle: Common Powers 3: Edward Unconditionally

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle


Cover Art by April Martinez

Polar Reaction by Claire Thompson

Claire Thompson brings a lot in this new gay romance: the "menage a trois" (fortunately with all male participant), the only "gay for you" attitude of one of the lovers, and finally the all too evident, but seldom faced, problem of the jealousy inside a menages.

Tuck is in love with Brendan: the first time he realized it was a year before when both of them where in a research camp with other researchers. But Tuck and Brendan had a special alchemy, something that Tuck finds again one year later when both of them are involved in another research project in Antarctica. But Brendan is straight, he even had a girlfriend or two in the past, and other than seems quite comfortable around Tuck, he never lets it go anything to allow Tuck to imagine that he is gay or at least curious. So now, their six week project is almost finished and once again Tuck is letting Brendan go without saying anything.

Enter Jamie, the young researcher in the same project with Tuck and Brendan. While Brendan is straight, and Tuck bisexual, Jaime is all gay; he doesn't flaunt his preferences, at least not inside his work, and till now he has only fantasize about Tuck and Brendan. They are both very handsome man, and for 25 years old Jamie it's impossible to not imagine an hot threesome between them. But probably he wouldn't do anything to make it happens, since as Tuck, he is not sure that Brendan could be interested, and even if he suspects that Tuck could be, they live and work in the same University town, and it would be embarrassing once they are again at home if things go wrong.

But fate plots to help all of them: a sudden snow storm traps the three of them in Antarctica, will all their fellow researchers gone. At first the charade plays only for two: Tuck and Jamie, the simpler pair, Tuck and Brendan, the romantic pair, and finally Jamie and Brendan, the unlikely one. Why this last pair is unlikely? Since where Tuck and Brendan are obviously in love, and so Brendan has at least an year to realize that he is interested in another guy, he approaches his interested to Tuck as something born from love; the "gay for you" definition applies correctly to this relationship, since Brendan loves Tuck despite Tuck being a man. And then the fact that Tuck is bisexual, in a way helps Brendan, since Tuck is not so "different" from him. Instead for Brendan to admit that he is interested also in Jamie means for him take a bigger jump: he is not only interested in a man, he is interested in a openly gay man and to worst things, he is interested while he is apparently in love with another one.

It would be not simple for the three of them to reach a balance, and strange thing, even if Tuck is the mainstay between Jamie and Brendan, who ignites everything and also who has the more active role in the menages is Jamie, the young one, the "freshman" in their work field, but probably the more experienced in dealing with a gay relationship. Tuck and Brendan have both nice roles, but for me the one who comes out better is without any doubt Jamie.

http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/polar-reaction

Amazon: Polar Reaction

Amazon Kindle: Polar Reaction

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading+list&view=elisa.rolle


Cover Art by Anne Cain

Razzle Dazzle (I Heart That City 2) by Willa Okati

The novella by Willa Okati turns around the setting of I Heart That City bar, a place where stories and life mix like the cocktail. I haven't read the previous story by Mechele Armostrong (it was an het romance), but this one is about Zach, bartender and at the same time philosopher of live; but as often happens, Zach is very good at giving advice to other people and instead is not so good to follow them for his own life. Zach is a runaway "lover", he abruptly dumped his live-in lover in Los Angeles without even gave him a reason and continued to run till he reached New York, where he is now living almost in stasis, waiting for something to happen. And something finally happen, since Josef, after giving Zach all the time he needs to think, is ready to claim again his lover.

The main reason why Zach left was that Josef was into the Master / pet relationship and Zach was not sure to be ready for that. Truth be told, Josef was not at all the domineering Master I ofter read in such relationship, he allowed Zach to have a life outside their home, to take his own decision regarding his work and similar, he only wanted for Zach to consult him and to wear an ownership collar in private. Put things like that I really can't understand why Zach freaked out, if not for the only reason that Zach is a really independent character who doesn't like to be told what he has to do... not really the right behavior to be a sub in a D/s relationship. And so the fact that Josef is not really a Master and Zach is not really a pet could be a good input for their relationship to work out.

I like the story even if it's really short. Both characters are enough developed to give me space to like them: Josef is a silent type, he is not a Master since he talks and behaves as a Master, he is a Master since his lover knows that Josef knows better than him what it's right and what it's wrong for him. Josef doesn't force any decision on Zach, on the contrary, he wants for Zach to arrive to the same conclusion Josef arrived, but with his own pace. Josef is also ready to admit his own mistakes, not in what he did, but in the time he did it: he was in too much of an hurry to "claim" Zach, he didn't give the man the time to realize that Zach wanted to be possessed. As I said Zach is a really independent man, but in a way he needs someone to drive him; Zach is always questioning his own decisions, he seems to have not a right in-sight in what he wants and needs, and he needs direction: so more than a Master that tells him what he has to do, he needs a Master who helps him to see the right direction and then lets him decide if he wants to take that direction.

There is not a strong BDSM component, both in the dialog than in the sex, so this story could appeal also those readers who usually don't like this type of relationship.

http://www.loose-id.com/detail.aspx?ID=903

Amazon: Razzle Dazzle: I Heart That City 2

Amazon Kindle: I Heart That City: Razzle Dazzle

Series: I Heart that City
1) Body Shots
2) Razzle Dazzle

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading+list&view=elisa.rolle


Cover Art by April Martinez

Edward Unconditionally (Common Powers 3) by Lynn Lorenz

The Common Powers series by Lynn Lorenz it's probably the only series were the paranormal powers of some of its characters are less important than the story, so less important that sometime you even forget that they exist.

Edward is a full flamboyant gay man from Atlanta. From a wealthy family, that maybe could not approve his "lifestyle", but would never let him live under their social status, Edward has never considered himself worthy of the love of a good man, and so he has always chosen the bad boys, but unfortunately not the "good" type of bad boys. When the last in a string of profiteers, clears out his bank account, Edward's mother, the one who manages Edward's money till his 40 years, gives him only one option: going in Texas and takes care of his ailing grandmother (a woman he has not seen in 15 years), while the scandal fades away in Georgia.

Edward takes his red sporty car, his Louis Vuitton matching suitcase set, his little bulldog named Winston (who has a matching wardrobe with his daddy), and drives as fast as he can toward Spring Lake in Texas, obviously infringing the speed limit and being halted by Jack, the handsome chief of police of Spring Lake. To 35 years old Edward, but with a behavior of a teenager, Jack appears as an unreachable man, handsome but too much older, and obviously straight. To Jack instead Edward appears like a forbidden fruit, someone he can't never imagine to have for his own in the small town where he lives. Maybe if Edward was more mainly, able to face the hardness to live in such a context... but no, Edward is lithe and gentle, screaming gay like a neon in the night.

Jack is deeply in the closet, and at 45 years old he has almost reached that phase in live when almost doesn't matter. He is not like so many other men, going in the city when the urge is too much, he has simply became comfortable with his quiet life and his loneliness. But first Winston and then Edward make him realize that he is not at all content with his life and that he wants Edward, and also Winston. Yes, since Winston is a very important character in the story, and I believe that the little dog recognized at first glance the right man for his daddy, and took the right move to be sure that the two got together.

Even if the book is very much focused on Jack and Edward's relationship, the sex doesn't arrive soon. And it's right like that, since it's not simple for Jack letting go years of conditioning and self-deprivation. Here maybe there is the only point of the book that made me wonder: there is obviously some secret in Jack's past, something that pushed him, in a good and bad way, to become the man he is now, but this aspect is not fully developed, remain something vague that we see only through some blurry image of Jack's memories.

On the other hand, Edward is fully developed, and I loved so much when he said that he wanted the fairy tale, for once in his life he wanted a man who loves him unconditionally, for who he is right now, without changing him... it's not only a desire for a dream lover, it's also the desperate cry of a rejected child. On the outside Edward seems sexy and funny, but he is for real a man with a desperate need of love. And Jack has so much love hidden inside, that he is obviously the right match for Edward, when he will decide to let it go.

The story is nice, it has obviously its funny moment, but it's mostly more romantic and sweet than light, and less erotic than expected, even if the sex you find, it's really good.

http://www.loose-id.com/prod-Common_Powers_3__Edward,_Unconditionally-913.aspx

Amazon: Edward Unconditionally: Common Powers 3

Amazon Kindle: Common Powers 3: Edward Unconditionally

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle


Cover Art by April Martinez

Behind the Cover: Judy York

Judy York has been an illustrator for nearly thirty years, and has worked for many book publishers including Ballantine, Berkley, Dorchester, Harlequin and Zebra. She received fine art training at Wesleyan University in Connecticut and Pratt Institute in New York, and has been a member of The Graphic Artists Guild, The National Arts Club and The Salmagundi Club.

 
Cover Art for Deceived by Nicola Cornick

( more pics )

For many years Judy worked in oils, but her introduction to the digital medium proved to be the start of a love affair that continues to this day. Exploring new and creative ways to meld her traditional drawing, painting and picture making skills with tools available only through modern technology has been a source of endless fascination for her. The result of this exploration has led to her mastery of numerous styles, ranging from very painterly to photographic.

Judy has also continued to create works of fine art in oils. Her paintings have been shown in New York, Scottsdale AZ., Atlanta GA. and Connecticut. Among the many public and private collections that display her work, she is proud to include the R. W. Norton Art Foundation of Shreveport, LA.

Judy currently resides in Connecticut with her husband, artist Charles Gehm

http://www.judyyork.com/

Behind the Cover: Judy York

Judy York has been an illustrator for nearly thirty years, and has worked for many book publishers including Ballantine, Berkley, Dorchester, Harlequin and Zebra. She received fine art training at Wesleyan University in Connecticut and Pratt Institute in New York, and has been a member of The Graphic Artists Guild, The National Arts Club and The Salmagundi Club.

 
Cover Art for Deceived by Nicola Cornick

( more pics )

For many years Judy worked in oils, but her introduction to the digital medium proved to be the start of a love affair that continues to this day. Exploring new and creative ways to meld her traditional drawing, painting and picture making skills with tools available only through modern technology has been a source of endless fascination for her. The result of this exploration has led to her mastery of numerous styles, ranging from very painterly to photographic.

Judy has also continued to create works of fine art in oils. Her paintings have been shown in New York, Scottsdale AZ., Atlanta GA. and Connecticut. Among the many public and private collections that display her work, she is proud to include the R. W. Norton Art Foundation of Shreveport, LA.

Judy currently resides in Connecticut with her husband, artist Charles Gehm

http://www.judyyork.com/

Special January Offer: Best Gay Stories 2008 edited by Steve Berman

For January, Lethe Press is offering ebook editions of Best Gay Stories 2008 for only $3.06! 20 stories by such well-known authors as Jeff Mann, Holly Black, Jameson Currier, and David Levithan, for less than a quarter each, that's a great deal!

Spread the word!

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-bestgaystories2008-13610-145.html

Editor Steve Berman has selected twenty stories--some moving essays, some splendid works of fiction--from the prior year that best feature the lives, loves and losses of gay men. With tales by fresh voices and established writers, Best Gay Stories offers readers indiscretions, poignant trysts, and reminiscences that are as evocative as they are imaginative.

The contributors to this year's volume are: M. S. Allen, Holly Black, Richard Bowes, Tom Cardamone, Jameson Currier, Peter Dube, Erastes, Greg Herren, James Klise, David Levithan, Raymond Luczak, Joseph Manera, Jeff Mann, Billy Merrell, Ethan Mordden, Paul Reidinger, Charles Rice-Gonzalez, Paul Russell, Aaron Shurin, and Robert Warwick.

Special January Offer: Best Gay Stories 2008 edited by Steve Berman

For January, Lethe Press is offering ebook editions of Best Gay Stories 2008 for only $3.06! 20 stories by such well-known authors as Jeff Mann, Holly Black, Jameson Currier, and David Levithan, for less than a quarter each, that's a great deal!

Spread the word!

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-bestgaystories2008-13610-145.html

Editor Steve Berman has selected twenty stories--some moving essays, some splendid works of fiction--from the prior year that best feature the lives, loves and losses of gay men. With tales by fresh voices and established writers, Best Gay Stories offers readers indiscretions, poignant trysts, and reminiscences that are as evocative as they are imaginative.

The contributors to this year's volume are: M. S. Allen, Holly Black, Richard Bowes, Tom Cardamone, Jameson Currier, Peter Dube, Erastes, Greg Herren, James Klise, David Levithan, Raymond Luczak, Joseph Manera, Jeff Mann, Billy Merrell, Ethan Mordden, Paul Reidinger, Charles Rice-Gonzalez, Paul Russell, Aaron Shurin, and Robert Warwick.

Wanting by M.L. Rhodes

That of Jeremy and Ben is once again one of those sweet love stories between young men that leaves you with an happy smile. It’s not an easy story, there are prejudices, both for Ben being gay than African-American, and changing life decisions to take, and in the end, you don’t know if everything will be all right for the two of them, but that is right and natural, we are talking of twenty and something boys who have still to build their future life, but the future perspective are good.

The story starts in the aftermath of what has initiated the above said life changing decision: Ben and Jeremy are roommates, and even if from Ben’s side it was probably love at first sight, he has never said anything to Jeremy, who is apparently straight and above all so shy that is almost impossible to push him into something sexual. But then Jeremy’s mother died, he realizes that he has no family, he starts to weight what is important in his life, and the only positive factor is Ben. On a faithful night that we don’t read, something happens between Jeremy and Ben, and now Jeremy is questioning everything he thought to know.

I think Jeremy is the classical example of man who is neither gay or straight, he simply has to be in love to have sex. It sounds old fashioned, but I think it’s the right definition for him; what is creating trouble to Jeremy is not the realization that he can be gay, actually I think that he has never thought to himself in that way, but more the difficulties that they will face if they will decide to be together. A no little part of them is also the interracial relationship, with Jeremy being from a deep south country where the racial prejudice is still strong. If Jeremy will choose to be with Ben, he knows that he will have to renounce to everything he considered home and family before.

On Ben’s side the only trouble he sees is that he doesn’t want to force Jeremy if he is not sure; Ben is slightly older than Jeremy, and openly gay, and so he fears to have in someway influenced Jeremy. Ben is gentle and kind, even when he thinks Jeremy is rejecting him, he never once let it lack his support to the friend. Unconsciously he is giving to Jeremy the substitution to the family he will loose if they will be together.

The story is basically a sweet romance, there is a bit of angst, but really not so much. Jeremy and Ben already know what is better for them, they need only to let the aftermath of their first night together to go down, and everything else will be clear, right there in front of their eyes.

One of the nicest thing in the story is, by the way, Al’s character, the straight other roommate of Jeremy and Ben: he is a so nice guy that maybe for the first time in year, it made me almost want to read his story, even if it is an het romance.

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

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle

Wanting by M.L. Rhodes

That of Jeremy and Ben is once again one of those sweet love stories between young men that leaves you with an happy smile. It’s not an easy story, there are prejudices, both for Ben being gay than African-American, and changing life decisions to take, and in the end, you don’t know if everything will be all right for the two of them, but that is right and natural, we are talking of twenty and something boys who have still to build their future life, but the future perspective are good.

The story starts in the aftermath of what has initiated the above said life changing decision: Ben and Jeremy are roommates, and even if from Ben’s side it was probably love at first sight, he has never said anything to Jeremy, who is apparently straight and above all so shy that is almost impossible to push him into something sexual. But then Jeremy’s mother died, he realizes that he has no family, he starts to weight what is important in his life, and the only positive factor is Ben. On a faithful night that we don’t read, something happens between Jeremy and Ben, and now Jeremy is questioning everything he thought to know.

I think Jeremy is the classical example of man who is neither gay or straight, he simply has to be in love to have sex. It sounds old fashioned, but I think it’s the right definition for him; what is creating trouble to Jeremy is not the realization that he can be gay, actually I think that he has never thought to himself in that way, but more the difficulties that they will face if they will decide to be together. A no little part of them is also the interracial relationship, with Jeremy being from a deep south country where the racial prejudice is still strong. If Jeremy will choose to be with Ben, he knows that he will have to renounce to everything he considered home and family before.

On Ben’s side the only trouble he sees is that he doesn’t want to force Jeremy if he is not sure; Ben is slightly older than Jeremy, and openly gay, and so he fears to have in someway influenced Jeremy. Ben is gentle and kind, even when he thinks Jeremy is rejecting him, he never once let it lack his support to the friend. Unconsciously he is giving to Jeremy the substitution to the family he will loose if they will be together.

The story is basically a sweet romance, there is a bit of angst, but really not so much. Jeremy and Ben already know what is better for them, they need only to let the aftermath of their first night together to go down, and everything else will be clear, right there in front of their eyes.

One of the nicest thing in the story is, by the way, Al’s character, the straight other roommate of Jeremy and Ben: he is a so nice guy that maybe for the first time in year, it made me almost want to read his story, even if it is an het romance.

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

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle