Review: SOMETHING WONDERFUL
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 16, 2014
I'm a fan of Eli Easton. I havent read her entire backlist, but the recent handful that I have read have all been good, solid stories. For me, in The Mating of Michael (book 3 in this series), her writing moves to the next level.The MCs, Michael & James, are such sympathetic characters. Michael has a bottomless well of empathy and caring which he selflessly shares with his clients. He's patient, kind, sweet, and beautiful. He wants to find his HEA but he knows his second job as a sexual surrogate would be a challenge for any guy to handle. James is in a wheelchair due to the polio virus he contracted as a child. His backstory is heartbreaking, and you really feel his pain and loneliness, his insecurities and vulnerabilities.Michael meets James at James' book signing. He's been a true rabid fanboy of James' work since he read his first book at age 16. He makes romantic overtures to James but is shot down a few times. James cant believe someone like Michael could possibly be interested in someone like him when he could have a 'whole' man instead. What they eventually come to realize is how perfectly they push just the right buttons for each other... Well, Michael knows sort of from the beginning, but he has to breach James' protective walls before they come together as a couple. Their coming together is sweet and sexy. There is also a big misunderstanding re: Michael's surrogacy work, but it is resolved in a most satisfactory way - after all, this is an m/m romance so no surprise there - but so poignant and perfect.I really enjoyed the secondary characters in this story, too. Marnie is a total hoot. Best lines go to her, followed closely by James' dry wit. In Easton's stories, I like that women are not portrayed in a one-dimensional bad guy role. Everyone is multi-faceted. I also love how she weaves bits of James' books within the story. Flashbacks flesh out James' past. All of these elements work well together in this wonderful book.Easton's dialogue is sharp, funny, & engaging. Her characters come alive on the page. You're totally emotionally engaged in what they're going through in the story. I laughed, cried, & just plain enjoyed the heck out of myself while reading the story. Although I've enjoyed all of her books that I've read to date, I feel that the writing in this book is more elegant and refined than in her previous ones. Her writing is sharper, more detailed...just more. She's so good at evoking emotions, and she improves in that as well in this story.Highly recommend the series. Read, in order, for maximum enjoyment, but definitely not necessary to achieve it.