Review: Well-written erotica with a hint of something deeper
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 6, 2011
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.Rating: 8/10PROS:- The writing is tight and concise. Two pages in, I was already hooked because I was so impressed by Chapel's ability to perfectly capture both the mindset of a bartender and the attitude of people with sketchy pasts toward police officers.- There's a clever-but-subtle difference in the narrative voices used in the scenes from Jay's perspective and those from Patrick's. Both men are guarded, but Jay's chapters have an edge of fear to them, whereas Patrick's are hard and precise.- I didn't particularly LIKE the sex scenes (see cons below). However, they work very well within the context of the story. Neither of these guys is the romantic type. They're hardened and cautious, but the sexual tension between them is glorious to behold.- Both men are entirely frank and direct with each other, which is perfect given their attitudes and no-nonsense personalities. It was refreshing to read a story with no teasing, no uncertainty on either guy's part, and no misunderstandings as to the end goal.CONS:- The sex is well written with plenty of detail, but I simply can't make myself enjoy intimate scenes when the guys have said fewer than 50 words to each other beforehand and simply shake hands and walk away afterwards.- The story is very short, and as a result it merely suggests a happy ending rather than showing one.Overall comments: This is a great short story if you're looking for erotica. The sex scenes are powerful and stood out to me, which is an accomplishment given how many m/m stories I read. I found the story a little disappointing simply because the hints at a deeper connection are only ever that: hints. The suggestions of a possible future for the characters served only to frustrate me.