Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Because of an opportunity he’d be a fool to turn down, Lyle Powers transfers to his company’s warehouse in central Kansas. The last thing he expects is to meet another gay man in the small town, let alone one who captures his interest.

Roger Kypers is a recovering alcoholic with a twelve-year-old daughter he only gets to see for part of the summer. Neither Lyle nor Roger is looking for a relationship, and they fumble at the start, yet emotions build as Roger shows Lyle the landmarks of Oz.

But when Roger’s wicked witch of an ex-wife threatens to take his daughter away for good if he doesn’t act “normally,” he’s faced with the challenge of letting her get away with it, or fighting to accept himself and standing up for what he knows is right.

 

Book Review

As far as I'm concerned, this is another winner form Andrew Grey. Lyle and Roger are such great guys, just trying to deal with their lives, both less than happy with who and where they are. I think it's fascinating how the story held my attention without any major angst, no hugely complicated plot twists, and no threat of world annihilation. Yes, I like to read all of those as well, but sometimes it's just nice to read about men I could just as well meet in the pub or bar around the corner as in one of Andrew Grey's books. I think part of their charm is that they're so easy to relate to, like close friends.

Lyle is in a rut. Everything is routine, one day pretty much like the next, and he is lonely to boot. Quick to give his heart because he wants a loving partnership so much, he has been disappointed more often than he cares to remember. And then the company he works for wants to "dump him in Oz (Kansas)" – well, that's what the offer of a special one-year project in the warehouse feels like to him. In the end he takes the offer – it's different from what he does now, it'll let him see a part of the world he'd not normally get to see, and his best friends Chuck and Don encourage him. Imagine his surprise when what he finds is very different from what he expects – in a good way!

Roger, a baker and restaurant co-owner of extraordinary talent, is in deep trouble. He has denied who he is all his life, which ultimately drove him to drink and almost lose his daughter to a vindictive ex-wife who cannot get over the fact he is gay. Small-minded is the kind way to describe her, and Roger's fear of her taking away his right to see his daughter has kept him quiet and depressed for years. He cannot imagine standing up to his ex, yet suddenly, with Lyle's help and support, he begins to see himself in a different life and finds the courage to be true to himself.

These two men are lost on their own, but when they get together they are exactly what each other need. Their story is sweet, moving, and just right when you're looking for a comfort read. It just goes to show how two normal men who each think they're nothing special can produce fireworks and achieve extraordinary results when they get together.

If you like sweet stories about great men who just want to be happy, if you enjoy finding out more about a sweet little town called Wamego, and if you're looking for a relaxing read about real men, then you will probably like this novel.

 

 

 

 

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 audio
Length	Novella, 164 pages/39984 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	15-January-2014
Price	$4.99 ebook, $14.95 audiobook
Buy Link	https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/dumped-in-oz-by-andrew-grey-8506-b