Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Senior year of college is for studying, partying, and having fun before getting serious about life. Instead, Chad’s days are filled with headaches and exhaustion, and his fencing skills are getting worse with practice, not better. Then there’s his nonexistent love life, full of girls he’s shunted to the friend zone. Is he asexual? Gay?

Grad student Warren Douglas could be out clubbing, but his roommate is better company, even without kisses. He’s torn up watching Chad suffer, gobbling ibuprofen and coming home early on Friday nights. If Chad weren’t straight, Warren would keep him up past midnight. They’re great as friends. Benefits might answer Chad’s questions.

A brief encounter with lab rats reveals Chad’s illness—he needs surgery, STAT, and can’t rely on his dysfunctional parents for medical decisions. Warren’s both trustworthy and likely to get overruled—unless they’re married. “You can throw me back later,” Warren says, and he may throw himself back after his husband turns out moody and hard to get along with, no matter how much fun his new sex drive is. Surgery turns Chad into a new man, all right…

…but Warren fell in love with the old one.

 

Book Review

“You are part of a puzzle in someone's life. You may never know where you fit. But, someone's life may never be complete without you in it.” ~ unknown

Warren is secretly in love with his roommate, Chad, but since Chad is straight, he tries not to think about it; being best friends will just have to do. When Chad confides in Warren, telling him about his lack of sexual response to the women he's dated, Warren suggests that a girl may not be who he's looking for. Chad's replies: “Uh. You’re a scientist.... I need some data.” , then proceeds to kiss Warren. Warren tells Chad that he doesn't want to be just a friend anymore, or just an experiment, but if that's not possible, then he needs to know immediately. The vague answer Chad gives him doesn't say yes, but it doesn't say no.

Warren is a great guy, considerate, and nurturing. When Chad kisses him, his mind races ahead, trying to figure out the new development in their relationship. To “obtain more data”, he and Chad spend more time experimenting and slowly, Chad confides in Warren because he trusts him. Chad tells Warren that between the headaches, weight gain, regardless of what he does to prevent it, and, worst of all, his lack of erections, he's miserable and unhappy. Warren is wonderful about it and starts immediately thinking of ways around this predicament. He doesn't want his friend, now lover, to hurt all the time and feel so hopeless.

Chad's condition is getting worse and affecting his health and his sanity. Warren doesn't know what to do, but feels he has to do something. When they inadvertently discover what may be the root of all Chad's problems, they are relieved, but frightened. It turns out that Chad needs surgery and it can change his life for the better, or it might make matters worse. Although it will clear up his physical problems, it may change his personality as well. Chad may no longer be attracted to Warren. Even knowing this, Warren encourages Chad to have the surgery because he wants his friend to feel better allowing him to have a better quality of life. Since Chad trusts Warren and no one else, he wants Warren to make any and all medical decisions for him. There's only one way Warren can do that Selfless as ever and very much in love, Warren suggests that they get married so he can help Chad, with the stipulation that if it doesn't work out, Chad can have a divorce.

This is a well-written story and contains some enlightening medical topics concerning types of tests, how a tumor can affect a person's personality, in addition to its sometimes physical effects. I loved Warren. Everyone should have such a caring, loving person in their lives. Sometimes I thought he was a little too caring, but I became deeply emotionally involved with him and sympathetic to his plight. I tried to like Chad, but I was left with more questions about him than answers. I didn't understand why he would go so long without treatment, but I also saw that he was in denial about a lot of things in his life, not just his health. Warren loved him and Chad seriously needed someone like Warren in his life, so I was hoping for a happy ending for them. You may like this book if you enjoy physiological and psychological topics, humor thrown in along with seriousness, and, of course, a happy ending. Thanks, P.D., for introducing me to Warren and Chad.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Dremaspinner Press for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 276 pages/84667 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	09-February-2015
Price
Buy Link	OUT OF PRNT