Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Out of the Army for six weeks and still adjusting to civilian life, Jake Hardy has moved to Atlanta to an apartment over his brother-in-law’s bar to start a new life. Things would be good if only he could get over his feelings for Chad Malone, the only man he’d ever loved, and the only man who’d ever broken his damned heart.  When he looks up from a seat at the bar and sees Chad coming toward him, Jake feels as if he’s just been sucker punched right in the gut. He has the pleasure of seeing Chad’s face blanch at the sight of him, those still gorgeous eyes going wide in his white face. It’s all Jake can do to keep his seat, when all he wants is to jump to his feet and knock Chad flat -- or kiss him. And one might be as satisfying as the other.

Story also appears in Designated Bottoms Anthology.

 

Book Review

Anger can be a powerful motivator. But when the need to take revenge at any price becomes overwhelming, nobody wins. And, as Jake in this story finds out, once love is added to the mix, as much as he denies it, the whole volatile mixture is more likely to do irreparable damage than anything else. With a setup of rather complex emotions that all boil down to “he hurt me, so I want to hurt him”, this story is an emotional roller coaster as well as in interesting character study of someone who thinks he has it all under control, only to find out he’s been deceiving himself. I watched it all In horrified fascination, pretty much like the often-quoted train wreck, and have rarely been as grateful for just the right twist at the end as in this case. Phew!

Jake truly is a hardass. With himself and with others, in professional as well as personal situations. He has a temper, flies into anger quite quickly, but holds it all under wraps while at work. Of course, he’d never admit it, and he does have almost perfect control, but deep down, he is an emotional volcano just ready to erupt. Along comes Chad, a cute guy who manages to break through all of Jake’s defenses. I think half the reason Jake ends up so furious is because he gave in to temptation and is as angry at himself as at Chad for breaking his heart – except he cannot admit that and wants to take it all out on Chad when he runs into him again two years later.

Chad is in a tough situation, His father, a retired Army colonel, hates the fact he is gay, and terrorizes him into breaking up with Jake. Chad is a broken man, and gives all the signs of someone with deep regrets, but Jake’s anger won’t let him see that. I really felt for Chad. Yes, he may have made a few mistakes, but to see the man he loves so deeply completely reject him without even a chance at an explanation? That hurts.

If you like stories about men who feel deeply, if you enjoy having your emotions raked over the coals, so to speak, by two men who are deeply in love yet seem ready to throttle each other instead, and if you’re looking for an intense, hot read, then you will probably like this short story.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. The anthology this story was published in has been provided by Torquere Press for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Short Story, 45 pages/14400 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	30-July-2014
Price
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