Review: Sexy, Not Silly, Fun, Not What I Expected!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 9, 2013
~~~3.5 stars bumped to 4 stars because I want Patch's story.In an effort to be very honest and full-disclosure and all of that, Nicole is a friend (we video blog about m/m books together), BUT, BUT, BUT her writing is just delightful. I absolutely enjoy myself, the characters and the story while I'm reading her work.Within the first few pages I was pretty struck by the in-your-face grit and I could see there wasn't going to be any holding back. Get ready for a whirlwind ride of sex, drug use and manipulations that feel very true to life. Even if it's a lifestyle you aren't familiar with.Oh, and by the way, I'm putting in my order for Patch's story right now!THE CHARACTERS""Yeah, a guy that shakes his a*s on stage once a week or more while wearing enough flash to make a cameraman jealous having a low opinion of himself? Who'd'a thunk it? I wasn't in the mood to talk about it now. It made me feel too raw to drop the bravado.""Jonathan - Rainbow-colored sexual oddball OR manipulated best friend? His dancing grounds him, his family is his tribe and his vices are always knocking at his door.""...this paradox of a man, physically strong, emotionally tender, mentally fragile. I was supposed to be giving him a better memory of the night, not wallowing in my own stupid issues.""Dean - Gorgeous, reclusive, and entirely more layered than I expected. But, how can Dean's social anxiety match with Jonathan's flamboyance?Side characters include Rachel - the bitch worthy of the energy you will expend getting worked up about her. Patch - the sweet, twinky, fireball that just really needs some real, true, love.THE STORYOn the surface this is a light-hearted, easy going story of a hippie/gypsy dance troupe who floats from town to town avoiding responsibility and making sure nothing brings the tribe down. The deeper you go though, there is a lot going on here. Every character, for good or bad, has issues and traumas to deal with.The unlikely (and I think this is Ms. Forcine's forte) developing relationship between Jon and Dean is just quirky and charming enough to melt your heart while the freaky, hot sex is steamy in all the right places. Then there's this wash of tender, adoring care that works it's way to the surface and just doesn't let go. By the end of the book I was absolutely needy for Jon and Dean to work it out.There were a couple areas that seemed to foreshadow and give away a little too much, but then there were other moments that I was struck dumb for not seeing what was coming. Rachel is an absolute horrible monster, this is no secret, but the depth of her deceptions continue to assault me.Take note: There is a rape element to this story, but it is dealt with in a way that makes it clear how horrible the action is and goes on to deal with the trauma.THE WRITINGRead Nicole Forcine for her honest-to-goodness unique characters. It's not like she's inventing a new species, but rather exploring with writing about characters that aren't typically developed. In this book we have Jonathan, a male belly-dancer. In her LHNB story, Smoky Glimpses, she wrote about a male fortune-teller. Her characters are vivid, and lively and tend toward living on the fringes of society. Much more interesting for their mystery.She also has the most interesting mix of fun and serious styles, all mixed together. She is able to delve into some pretty heavy content without bogging the story down. Her writing is readable and real. It's emotional with both humor and heartbreak.~ ~ ~I would like to thank Dreamspinner Press and Nicole Forcine for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.~ ~ ~