Review: 4.5 Stars for this contemporary M/M romance
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 28, 2014
Rusty and Sean have been best friends since childhood. They are both out gay males, and just past college in this story collection.Backstory: Sean's father, and Air Force officer never approved of his son's sexuality and had been verbally and physically abusing him throughout his childhood. Sean left home at age 16 when he came out officially and his father's beating put him in the hospital. Rusty's parents--who knew of Rusty's sexuality, and also knew Rusty and Sean were lovers, took Sean in.Actual story:Sean gets a job offer in Boston, far from New Orleans and Rusty's supportive family. There is tension regarding this move because it requires Rusty to give up his job and move, but Sean wants this because he needs to feel as if he has made a success of himself. He suffers cripling shyness and insecurity as a result of his father's abuse,. Also, Sean longs to be seen as a professional, and a man, and feels guilty that Rusty's parents have supported him so long.Sean returns to New Orleans from a two-month probation/training period. The plan was for Rusty to move to Boston when Sean earned the full-time position, which he has. Now they are supposed to drive their belonings north, and both men are unsure. Rusty is afraid that Sean--who never went out without him before--has made a bunch of new friends. And, perhaps new lovers? Two months is a long time--could Sean have been unfaithful? Sean misunderstands Rusty's new desire to use protection--has Rusty been unfaithful? They really agonize for a bit. Then the get on with their lives together.With money tight, Rusty makes a snap decision to spend too much entering them into a drag queen competition on Halloween. The prizes were too good to pass up, and he knows Sean--with his delicate features and lithe build--will be a natural for the contest. Sean has to put aside his fears and go with it. Rusty has been so lonely and getting ready for the contest Sean notices Rusty's finally smiling with real joy for the first time since leaving New Orleans.Visiting home for Christmas, Rusty and Sean finally see the difference between themselves. They are guests--and this is unsettling as well as empowering. Their new life in Boston feels like the real deal, and they are weathering the storm very well, together.Sean gets nervous that he's going to be fired on the eve of his wedding to Rusty. With family stress, on top of the job stress, Sean is fit to burst, as is Rusty--but Rusty realizes that he's in a great life with Sean. Sure, he's had trouble finding steady work, but--having been on his own with Sean for half a year now--his father looks at him as a man, not a son, for the first time. They muddle through with even better success then they had considered.My Impressions:As a whole these stories recount a happy, fairly-well-adjusted gay couple first starting out on their own. They are serious, and they are supportive and they struggle with doubts and they cling to each other. They are open and caring--insofar as they can be. Sean struggles more with the openness, but he works hard to be there (and more) for Rusty. These two are truly fun to take a fictional stroll with.I was never in doubt that I'd enjoy this story collection. I have a few gripes about typos, but they didn't bother too much. My biggest criticism is that I'd like to see these stories a bit more fleshed out--particularly the first one. Days go by with lots of important conversations and yet we only get the final decision.Still, it's got a ton of heart and Sean and Rusty are compelling characters with a lovely story.I received a review copy of this book via Goodreads' Don't Buy My Love program in exchange for my honest opinion.