Jasmine (Night and Day 1) by Chris Owen at Torquere Press
Genre | Gay / Contemporary / Romance |
Reviewed by | Serena Yates on 13-August-2012 |
Genre | Gay / Contemporary / Romance |
Reviewed by | Serena Yates on 13-August-2012 |
Steve Hughes is relatively new to California and in search of connections. A life-long geek and nerd into science fiction, Steampunk costumes, and role play, he takes a shopping suggestion for some items he needs and walks into "This and That". The store blows him away, but not nearly as much as the owner.
Luke Jones makes a living selling oddities, dry goods, and vintage clothing. His shop is full of treasures, so he knows a treasure seeker when he sees one. Before long he finds himself sharing more than just what's in his shop. High on a rooftop, surrounded by night blooming flowers, Luke shares more than mere merchandise with his customer. Will Steve and Luke forge the connection they need, or is it all just role-play?
This story is a fun mixture between geekiness (mainly cons of all kinds) and a slow-blooming, sweet romance. The main characters each have tons of quirks, are very lovable, and discover each other and their predilections in a measured pace, both surprised at what they discover in the other. The settings where they interact are very detailed and the descriptions are wonderful.
Steve is an office worker with an active life at cons. He role plays, dresses up in costume when warranted, and knows how to enjoy life. I have a feeling his entire apartment is full of collectibles and memorabilia! Not all his past boyfriends have been very understanding, and he is amazed when he meets Luke, who seems to be a kindred spirit.
Luke is an interesting man as well: he owns a shop called "This and That", which is a treasure trove of exactly the kinds of collectibles Steve is looking for. He also has an interesting hobby, which seems contradictory with the rest of what he does, but actually provides him with some balance. Luke knows what he wants, but it sounds as if he leaves the 'bossiness' to the character he plays at cons.
And when the two get together? The action is very hot, yet left me with no doubt that the initial lust they feel for each other has the potential to grow into more. Warning: if you don’t like at least three sci-fi shows, and have no idea where to keep your sonic screw driver, you are unlikely to enjoy the full extent of this story. If, on the other hand, you like short stories that are full of details, if you enjoy characters with lots of quirks, and if you're a fan of cons and geeks, you will probably like this story.
DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Torquere Press for the purpose of a review.
Format | ebook |
Length | Short Story, 39 pages |
Heat Level | |
Publication Date | 20-September-2011 |
Price | |
Buy Link |