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Without loosing his penchant for eastern philosophy and lifestyle, with Match Maker Alan Chin tests his hand with a sport themed novel, something that apparently is completely at the opposite. Apparently since the chosen sport is yes something that is based on a good physical strength, but it has also deep root in balance and inner calm, Tennis.Strange is that, the main argument of the novel is that Tennis is a macho sport… well, truth be told in Europe Tennis is probably the most likely candidate to have gay professional players. And no, this is not due to the actual presence of out players, but simply since Tennis is seen like a sophisticated sport, something the common man hardly will play.
But in any case, European misconceptions or not, being gay and a professional player is something that doesn’t match well in any sport, at least to the public opinion, and so Jared and Daniel, teenager lovers who became player and trainer, had seen their dreams smashed; the downfall was not so hard, Jared survives giving few 1 hour lessons each week to people willing to pay more than the average to boast they have a former champion as instructor, and Daniel has a more common job as tennis teacher in a poshy club. They could be happy, but regrets make their life a nightmare, and also their relationship is under duress.
When Connor enters their life, I feared the worst; 18 years old and pretty, and willing to do everything necessary to reach his goal, I was scared he would have been the final blow to Daniel and Jared’s relationship and instead he was their only chance to survive. Connor is not gay, and even if he has a special relationship with Spencer, a same age kid, his is more the jealousy of best friends who don’t like to share a special bond.
Trying to make Connor a better player, Daniel starts to heal also Jared, and four year later their initial defeat, both Daniel and Jared are well aware of what they are losing if they don’t win this time, and it’s not a trophy or money, it’s their happiness and love.
I really liked that, even if Alan Chin didn’t neglect Jared and Daniel’s relationship, quite the opposite actually, he also gave enough insight in the other couples waltzing around, Connor and Shar, Spencer and Harman, even the Baroness and Alma. It makes for a full rounded novel, btw a very long novel considering today standard at over 300 pages, but not boring at all. I read it in a day, with barely a break, and even if the sex was almost non-existent, or better not detailed, it was nevertheless a satisfying romance, maybe even more right for that reason.
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=1968
Amazon: Match Maker
Amazon Kindle: Match Maker
Paperback: 342 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (September 6, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1615815872
ISBN-13: 978-1615815876
Reading List: http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bott
Author Cheryl Anne Porter passed away August 25, 2004. An award-winning writer and much sought-after speaker, she made a difference in the lives of many with her words and her sparkling personality. Cheryl wrote historicals for Dorchester and St. Martin's Press, as well as contemporaries for Love & Laughter, Duets and Temptation. Her final Temptation, Blind Date, was published in February 2005. Cheryl leaves behind a legacy of wonderful memories and great books.
Author Cheryl Anne Porter passed away August 25, 2004. An award-winning writer and much sought-after speaker, she made a difference in the lives of many with her words and her sparkling personality. Cheryl wrote historicals for Dorchester and St. Martin's Press, as well as contemporaries for Love & Laughter, Duets and Temptation. Her final Temptation, Blind Date, was published in February 2005. Cheryl leaves behind a legacy of wonderful memories and great books.
Changing Jamie is a Young Adult novel that has a lot to teach also to young adult is no more. It faces an issue, HIV in teenagers that I think most people prefer to ignore since it’s an ugly side of life; moreover, it unveils a practice, that among the bug-chasers and the gift givers that only to think about it make me shiver: underage kids have unprotected sex with HIV-positive men with the exact intent to be infected; of course these kids are depressed, or traumatized, and with a low-level of self-esteem; they probably believe no one loves them, and they believe probably they would be accepted at least by whom has their same illness. Thinking that such practice is described in a Young Adult novel is scaring, but it’s done in a way that wants to teach those kids that is not the way to be loved or accepted, it’s only a way to destroy your life forever, even more than what you believe is in that moment.
Changing Jamie is a Young Adult novel that has a lot to teach also to young adult is no more. It faces an issue, HIV in teenagers that I think most people prefer to ignore since it’s an ugly side of life; moreover, it unveils a practice, that among the bug-chasers and the gift givers that only to think about it make me shiver: underage kids have unprotected sex with HIV-positive men with the exact intent to be infected; of course these kids are depressed, or traumatized, and with a low-level of self-esteem; they probably believe no one loves them, and they believe probably they would be accepted at least by whom has their same illness. Thinking that such practice is described in a Young Adult novel is scaring, but it’s done in a way that wants to teach those kids that is not the way to be loved or accepted, it’s only a way to destroy your life forever, even more than what you believe is in that moment.