Review: a sweet and good-natured m/m romance
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 22, 2011
J. M. Cartwright's "The Trouble with Angel" is a sweet and good-natured m/m romance about building a family and making a home. With entertaining characters, romance that is an appealing combination of sweet and spicy, and just a touch of humor, this is one of those stories that will make you happy and perhaps brighten your day a bit.The focus of the story is on the irrepressible Angel, and he is without a doubt what makes The Trouble with Angel worth reading. Angel may be high energy and high maintenance and just a little bit flighty (and how!), but there is a surprising amount of substance as well as a tender heart under the designer clothes and surface drama. Here is a mama's boy who is not ashamed to admit it, and I could not help but love him in spite of his tendency to overreact, pout, and treat every situation like a crisis.Angel has found his perfect match in the character Brandon, who is his complete opposite. Brandon's relaxed, good-natured, and affectionate attitude tempers Angel's emotional fireworks. The interaction between these two heroes is teasing and playful, but their love scenes have a sensual spark that underscores how well suited they are to each other.The two young children, Marisa and Trey, are cute and quite believable. They act in an age-appropriate manner, which means you never quite know what is going to come out of their mouths or what they are going to do next. Readers will enjoy watching these two keep Angel and Brandon on their toes.The conflict in "The Trouble with Angel" is admittedly pretty mild. The plot revolves around whether the heroes can make a stable home for two young children as well as Angel's angst over whether to follow his heart or to return to his more familiar environment (and his mama) in the big city. This "do I stay or do I go" dilemma leads us to wonder whether Angel and Brandon will make it as a couple. Because, as we all know, sometimes love is not enough.I thought that "The Trouble with Angel" was well-written and entertaining and very much worth my reading time. This is a story to read when you're looking for a few hours of "feel-good" warmth instead of edge-of-your-seat action and tension. It's not going to have you holding your breath in suspense, but it will leave you with a smile and a sense of wellbeing at the end.