Mexican Heat by Laura Baumbach & Josh Lanyon

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Usually I don't like to give up a story, but in this case I'm allowed... First time I heard of latino man Antonio and his blind lover Gabriel was perhaps two years ago. I read a short story by Laura Baumbach, South of Border, no more than a scene in an hot tube, but really hot (as most of Laura Baumbach's books). I don't know, probably it's a fetish, but I always am fascinated by love stories involving a blind partner... there must be a lot of trust on one side to allow someone near you when you are blind, but if you find the right partner, I believe the resulting feeling are much more intense. And so I was waiting for the longer novel the author was writing with the same pair.

The story actually starts at the beginning, when Gabriel is still a sighted San Francisco Police Department undercover agent. During his two years as undercover agent, but really even before, Gabriel, alias Giovanni, only allows himself one night stands and possibly well far from the circle he gravitates in: even if in San Francisco, mafia is not a word which match well with gay. And so when one of his one night stand, Miguel, reveals to be the lieutenant of the Mexican drug lord Gabriel's boss is dealing with, Gabriel is a bit disconcerted. How can he be so attracted by a villain? He should be the good guy and not mixing with the evil guys... But maybe Miguel is not so bad boy as he appears.

The first part of the book is good, I really like the way how Giovanni and Miguel met in a club and that first raw sex scene is almost an housemark for Laura Baumbach's books, but truth be told, I like much the second part; it's all over all pure hot romance, but also mushy feeling, and in some part it almost made me cry. How Antonio deals with a wounded Gabriel, how he manages to pull out all the protective layers of the man, to bare his soul... and how Gabriel leans on Antonio, without for this being weak or dependent: it takes a real man to understand when it's the case to call for help.

So sorry to the thriller lover, but I read this book more like a very good romance. Oh, don't worry, there are also the car racing scene, the shootings in the night, and also the classical scene in the warehouse, but I manage to read them in a bit to hurry to my romance scenes... instead, you, thriller lover, could linger on them as you want, you will have plenty.

As for the characters, Laura Baumbach confirms her love for a good Alpha male, Antonio is the classical type: it reminds me one of that chocolate with the dark and hard exterior but with a sweet and molten inside. Perhaps a bit different from the other Alpha males' mates I was used, is Gabriel, but not too much: it's true that Gabriel, as an agent, is independent and strong, but in his private life he prefers not to be the dominant side of the couple; he prefers to be dominate, he fights against his mate, but then, if the mate is worth of it, he surrenders with joy.

The book is the first in a new series with the same characters; good thing since they are both really worth of some more books. And then I still have to read about Christmas at Antonio's family.

http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/mexican-heat

Amazon: Mexican Heat #1 Crimes&Cocktails Series

Reading List:

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

Comments

[4everinblujeans.livejournal.com]

I hope this book will become available soon...can't wait to read it.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

You means the ebook? I think it will available from Samhain in January 2009.

Elisa

[4everinblujeans.livejournal.com]

I tried to look in barnes and noble website but it is not yet available. I might have to wait until it becomes available in amazon. So, ebooks will be available in January...still a long time to wait ^^

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Strange that you had problem with B&N. Anyway in few days the print book should be available also on Amazon. Elisa

[leeteng.livejournal.com]

Just bought it from Amazon today! Can't wait to read this. Thanks Elisa for bringing this to our notice so quickly.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I'm like you needed to read it as soon as possible. It's really a worth read, one of the best by Laura. Elisa

Question about characters

[(Anonymous)]

I glanced through the e-book I bought from samhain and noticed there are 2 parts and two different characters paired with Gabriel - Miguel in the first part and Antonio in the second.

So Gabriel ends up with a different guy in the end? None of the other reviews even mention an Antonio and you mentioned both so I'm totally confused.

Re: Question about characters

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Ahahahah you want a spoiler if you want an answer to this question. I wrote the review to avoid giving spoiler, but I will give you two tips: remember my sentence "Maybe Miguel is not so bad boy as he appears" and the other one "First time I heard of latino man Antonio and his blind lover Gabriel was perhaps two years ago"... and maybe I said enough to you for understand who really is Miguel ;-)