Review: A Helping Hand by Shayla Kersten
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 23, 2009
Rich and Dan are best friends in a small town USA. Both police officer, the most dangerous thing they face is a speed ticket. Dan is the womanizer of the town, but he is not despised by women: he is very clear with all the women he dates, he is searching for Miss Right, the one to share his life, and he is bent upon to "test" all the women available. Rich instead is the eternal friend, both for women than men: he is always there, always available to give an hand... Rich is gay, but he decided long time ago to not coming out in the small town he lives to avoid trouble; his boss knows that, and he has no problem with it, but no one else. Rich thinks that no one else in the town could be a possible partner for him, so why complicate his life? When he has "some" urges, he has a buddy f..k friend in the nearer city, and he takes a weekend off. Neither Dan knows about him, above all since Rich has feelings for Dan, feelings that he has no intention to reveal since there is no chance that Dan returns them.But when Dan is injured in a car accident and he needs help at home, Rich offers to stay with him in the same house and the proximity  unveil some of his feelings. Probably the realization that he could loose his friend, unlocks something in Rich, and he finds out that also Dan is not at all stranger to the idea. But for Dan is the first gay experience and he has never had before thoughts about men; the only man he desires is Rich, but he is not still ready to come out. I understand Dan: he all of sudden faces a very important decision and he is not given the time to metabolize the news; he is asked to choose and he is put in front of an hard choice, stay with Rich or see him go to his buddy friend Jeremy, and loose him forever.This is the classical triangle: Jeremy loves Rich but Rich loves Dan and Dan is not sure of what he feels. Of all the three characters, I like Dan, I believe he is the one who risks everything for love. Don't know if I like Rich... true, Rich is a positive character, a good friend, but I believe he is not fighting spirit, he goes with the flow, and he doesn't try to change the thing around him. Poor Jeremy is a supporting character, but I like him: he risks and looses, but at least he tries.The story is medium long, 145 pages, and it's a good mix of plot and sex. Maybe the sex is a bit too easy, and truth be told, I don't like very much the attitude of Dan who despises the behavior of his last girlfriend Sharon, but still he remembers with pleasure her bed skills, and of Rich, who thinks to be in love with Dan, but still turns to Jeremy for comfort sex. But probably I always see the world through pink glasses, and I said, all in all I like very much Dan and Jeremy... will Shayla Kersten write Jeremy's story?