Review: Such a fun, original series
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 10, 2013
I've really enjoyed all the stories in the Strangers On A Train anthology. They have all been very different yet have trains (of all sorts) as a common theme; Big Boy is perhaps the most different because it takes place in a train museum. Train museums are something I'm more familiar with than I care to admit. My now adult son was a train fanatic as a small child and we went to many train museums and train "graveyards" over the years. So, it was very easy for me to imagine the setting of this story and the feasibility of it as these establishments often house trains from a variety of eras and places. I'll admit, I loved this story because of the fantasy role playing this couple participates in and I loved it even more when we realize why it is so important to them both.Mandy is a single mom, not by choice. She has custody of her nephew following a tragic accident that left both of his parents dead. It's been a hard adjustment for someone who never intended to have children but she wouldn't change this part of her life for anything. She joins and online dating service to give her a little distraction from parenthood and working full time. Tyler is looking for someone to spend some uncomplicated time with; someone to escape his everyday life that has become harder to handle with each passing day. Creating fantasy profiles and dates is just what he needs and when he finds a willing partner, it becomes something both he and his date look forward to.I found this story to be so enjoyable as we are treated to each fantasy date. I loved reading about how they were dressed, their "character" for the evening, and the events that take place. Each date was like a mini story within the story and that makes it really special. In between we get to see what life is really like for Mandy and we come to understand how these dates and this time she spends with her fantasy man mean to her. When she sees Tyler outside of their date night and he acts like he doesn't even know her, Mandy realizes she's falling for him and she's unsure how to proceed.These two both have so much in common without even realizing it and while they were escaping together, they were building a pretty strong foundation for a relationship. I enjoyed watching these two inject so much of themselves into their fantasy world but when things come to a screeching halt, it becomes evident they need each other way more than they ever thought.I felt such sympathy for these characters with the struggles they both face and could completely understand how their fantasy role playing let them forget, even if it was just for one night a month. Big Boy is a delight to read; it's imaginative, fresh, and thoroughly enjoyable. Once again, Ruthie Knox has reminded me why she's become one of my favorite go to authors!Review copy provided for an honest review.