Book Reviews

Book Blurb

“Road trip!”

Otto Digmore is a 26-year-old gay guy with dreams of being a successful actor, and he's finally getting some attention as a result of his supporting role on a struggling sitcom. But he's also a burn survivor with scars on half his face, and all indications are that he's just too different to ever find real Hollywood success.

Now he's up for an amazing new role that could change everything. Problem is, he and his best friend Russel Middlebrook have to drive all the way across the country in order to get to the audition on time.

It's hard to say which is worse: the fact that so many things go wrong, or that Russel, an aspiring screenwriter, keeps comparing their experiences to some kind of road trip movie.

There's also the fact that Otto and Russel were once boyfriends, and Otto is starting to realize that he might still have romantic feelings for his best friend.

Just how far will Otto go to get the role, and maybe the guy, of his dreams?

Book Review

“Without even realizing it, you taught me a lot of things. Not only about life, but how it's okay to feel something extraordinary about someone.” ~ unknown

Otto Digmore, of 'The Otto Digmore Difference', hasn't had an easy life. Since the age of seven, Otto has struggled not only with his physical scars that obviously brought a lot of unwanted attention, but with his wounded psyche as well. He's driven to make something of himself, to be famous, but he finds that being famous is a two-sided coin. It still doesn't stop the small-minded people who see his scars and nothing else.

Despite his hardships, Otto has finally achieved his goal of becoming a famous actor, but he soon realizes that he's still not able to just be himself and not even sure who that is. Otto is always playing a role; the character he plays on the screen and the other he plays for his 'adoring' public. Even with all his fame he still feels empty, lonely, as if everything he owns, as nice as it may be, doesn't belong to him. Otto thinks that going to his best friend and ex-boyfriend's wedding is going to be a difficult experience, but it isn't. It is surprisingly nurturing. Otto feels good being with people who genuinely care for him. Yet, when he comes home to a perfect, but empty apartment, with the door decorated with candle wax, Otto realizes nothing has changed. It doesn't help matters when his short-lived claim to fame evaporates after the show he's in is dropped after one season and his agent is only interested in him accepting offers like Freddy Kruger, knowing that's the last thing he would be interested in. With the help of Charlie, his agent's assistant, Otto gets a chance to audition for a feature film with one of the biggest directors in Hollywood. His best friend, Russel, encourages him to do what it takes to audition for the director and offers to go with him.

Otto and Russel head on a road trip that ends at the director's mansion in New Orleans.  Otto still has feelings for Russel and doesn't know how he will fare on such a long trip alone with him. Otto and Russel have been friends for a long time. Russel is oblivious to Otto's lustful reactions; he's just acting as he always does. Instead of appreciating the level of affection and loyalty it takes to drop everything, including leaving your new husband, to help a friend in need, Otto is resentful, thinking that Russel, who is trying to be supportive, is trying to push him too hard when he's not walked in Otto's shoes. If Otto doesn't get his head on straight, he is in danger of losing the best friend he's ever had.

I've always liked Otto and have been waiting for his story; I really wanted him to have a happy ending. This story is full of angst, mostly on Otto's part, and I did want to smack him a few times for being so short-sighted and not reaching outside of himself enough to realize the good things in his life. Fortunately, Otto is able to get it and realize that love is not always framed in a traditional way; it doesn't make it any less spectacular. Thanks, Brent, not just for making Otto's life better, but for touching my heart and making me feel so deeply.

 

 

 

 

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Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novella, 165 pages
Heat Level
Publication Date	21-February-2017
Price	$5.99 ebook, $13.99 paperback
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/Otto-Digmore-Difference-Book-ebook/dp/B01N1TARI3