Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Before jumping into his first semester of college, Thomas Maloney decides to lose his virginity at a party to a stranger he’s sure he’ll never see again. Only the next day, he’s surprised to learn the same one-night stand will be sharing his dorm room. Thomas considers himself lucky, but his new roommate—not so much.

Closeted as they come, football jock Remington “Rem” Daniels is on track for a shot at the pros. Rem tries to play it cool and avoid falling for the confidently gay Thomas, which could hurt his chances. Dealing with their constant need to get in bed together wouldn’t be so hard if Rem didn’t have a girlfriend and Thomas didn't have a conscience.

When she delivers news that will change Rem’s life forever, Thomas knows it’s time to move back home to Thornwood, Colorado. But neither the distance nor knowing Rem belongs to someone else helps Thomas get over him. Rem’s feelings haven’t changed either. When it comes down to love or football, Rem will have to make the hardest choice of his life and hope Thomas will still be waiting for him when he does.

Book Review

Some young people are naïve, they make mistakes, and sometimes they don’t even seem to learn from them until many years later. The two main characters in this story certainly cause their share of pain when they ignore who they really are and try to be what others expect of them. Thomas and Rem are in college when they first meet and, similar to the men in book one of this series, neither of them wants a relationship. Their attraction keeps pulling them together despite the fact that Rem “has to be straight” so he can become a pro football player – to the point that he has a girlfriend - and Thomas doesn’t want to be “the other man”. But cheating isn’t their only problem, and as bad as that is, it gets worse. Much worse!
 
Thomas has decided to lose his virginity at a party right before the semester starts, and while he is happy that he succeeds, he is less happy to find out that the masked man who helped him out is his roommate and consummate jock, Rem. Thomas is still attracted to the guy, that isn’t the problem. The issue is the girlfriend who suddenly turns up. Emotional chaos ensues: Thomas feels bad and wants to be just friends, Rem keeps pushing for more, Thomas can’t resist and gives in. But it makes him feel bad, and when it becomes apparent that Rem will marry his girlfriend to increase his chances of becoming a pro football player, Thomas decides it is time to go home. But he has fallen in love, can’t forget Rem, and even though they only speak every few months, he is still in love with Rem five years later.

Rem is on track to fulfill his father’s and his dream of playing professional football. He is bisexual, but he is determined to marry his high school sweetheart because that will increase his chances of getting drafted. Whether or not that is true is irrelevant, it is what he believes. And despite the fact that he does not love her, and falls in love with Thomas, he will not deviate from his course. The pain he causes himself, Thomas, and eventually his wife, is horrible. It takes Rem a very long time to figure out what is critical, and he drove me to distraction just reading about it!

If you like stories about flawed characters who make more than one mistake, if angst and years of pain are your thing, and if you’re looking for a read that might drive you up the wall with its realistically stupid main characters, yet has an oddly satisfying (if extremely sudden) ending, then you will probably like this novel. I don’t think it is Thomas and Rem’s full story, but after calming down from the shock of the abrupt finish, I believe the point at which the author chose to end it concludes their emotional struggle of finding each other. The fight that is sure to follow will be of a different nature – and in that sense, it was the correct decision.

 

 

 

 

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

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 200 pages/61890 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	04-April-2016
Price	$6.99 ebook, $14.99 paperback, $14.99 bundle
Buy Link	https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/about-last-night-by-caitlin-ricci-1836-b