Top 100 Gay Novel: All Through the Night by Suzanne Brockmann

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Suzanne Brockmann is pissed off. She is really hungry cause she has a gay son and she wants that her son can have a normal life and marry the man he loves. And from what I understand, in USA some party wing has put in stand by a law that recognize same sex marriage in Massachussetts. So when her publisher has asked her to write a Christmas novel (usually a tale of good feeling and we all love each other genre) she has written All Through the Night, where her gay characters, Jules and Robin, will marry during Christmas time in Boston.

Jules is a recurring character in Suzanne Brockmann novels, but he has met his life partner only in Hot Target and they have started a relationship in Forces of Nature, the last novel in the Troubleshooters series. Jules is an FBI agent, Robin a drunk movie actor in the closet and now an outed rehab fiction actor. They live in Boston, where Robin works, and they try to organize their marriage, among the renovation of their Victorian house, an ex of both (Adam) who doesn't accept a no like answer, a reporter who is too good in his work and manages to gain a lot of private info, and even a Jules' mission gone bad.

Like all the Christmas novel (I have in mind, for example, Dark Celebration by Christine Feehan) it's more a way for the author to collect all her favourite characters and makes a gift to her fan. So the plot is not essential and it's more a collection of glimpses in the life of various couples of the past. But what I find really strange is that, usually Suzanne Brockmann is a bit sexy author, and in this book there is no sex at all!!! When you arrive to an hot moment between Jules and Robin, the chapter finish or worse, it starts when all is just happened. What?!? I want my sex scenes, you can't give me two panting hot males without tell me why they pants!!! Ok, ok, it's a Christmas novel, I know, and it's the first time a mainstream romance author has the courage to write a M/M novel, so, I can only say: Thank you Suzanne Brockmann, and I will buy also Forces of Nature and Hot Target, and I will buy also your next M/M novel (Adam and Tony's story I think), but please, next time, could you give me a bit of flesh more?

Of Jules and Robin, what can I say? Jules is the more action-less words type. Quiet, strong and honest man. Maybe a bit jelaous, but when he is so gentle and caring with Robin, does it matter if he is a bit possessive? No! Robin is deeply in love. Point. He has eyes only for Jules, and maybe he is a bit distracted by this, but to be true, also the world around doesn't help: it seems that all happen to put him in trouble. But luckily he has an entire team of Troubleshooters to help him.

As I say, in general, Christmas novels don't have a strong plot, so, after all, I think this one is pretty good being one in the genre. And well, I read it in one day, so it's also a pageturner.

Amazon: All Through the Night: A Troubleshooter Christmas

Suzanne Brockmann's In the Spotlight post: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/329123.html

Comments

[b-sheridan.livejournal.com]

I just received this book from the library and will probably read it this week. I read Hot Target and Forces of Nature and was also disappointed by the lack of detail in the love scenes--especially the first real love scene--between Robin and Jules.

But I think this "closing the bedroom door" may be Ms. Brockmann's (or maybe even her publisher's) way of making gay sex "easier" for traditional romance readers to accept.

I'm anxious to see if the success of this book will lead some of those readers to seek out more similar stories that are very common in e-publishing these days. And I'd really love to see e-publishing success with m/m make the big NY houses sit up and take notice the way they did with erotic romance in general.

And being totally selfish I think our Detective Jason Chen is ever so much sexier and hot than Jules Cassidy ^_^

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think you are right. So to read of Robin and Jules I have to bought Hot Target and Forces of Nature? or also some other books? and It's in Forces of Nature their first time?

Elisa

[(Anonymous)]

I suppose it helps if you've read or skimmed through the other books.

The meet in Hot Target then admit their feelings in Force of Nature. To be honest in Hot Target I just skipped through most of the main story until I came to the Jules & Robin parts until the ending chapters when things became a bit more exciting with the main characters.

Force of Nature was a bit more exciting to me so I paid closer attention to the main story as well.

[b-sheridan.livejournal.com]

the reply was mine. I forgot to log in.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I know Barbara. Maybe I will buy only Force of Nature. And if I like it, I will buy also Hot Target. Elisa