Review: Emotionally Draining Story With a Unique Premise
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 26, 2013
It's been a long and emotional journey to reach this final book in the Irresistible Attraction series and it's a memorable way to wrap things up as it deals with an issue not dealt with very often in stories......life as a transgender individual.  Ms. Grant deals with the issue in a straight forward and realistic way making the character of Gil both sympathetic and heroic.  It also brings back Steve who until recently has been playing the field but who has become older and wiser and now yearns for something more permanent.Steve hasn't always been likable, but since admitting his sexuality he's become a more thoughtful and caring individual and seeing him so concerned about another person warms my heart.  The feelings Gil inspires in him caught him off guard and seeing a bumbling Steve try to woo him was a sweetly endearing sight to see.  Everything else has come so easy to Steve it's about time that he's had to work for something, that makes their relationship more worthwhile.Gil's life has been one betrayal after another.  First it's his body that betrays him as he knows he's been born the wrong sex, then it's his family who turns on him and casts him out, and the final betrayal is that of a former lover whose addictive lifestyle almost dragged him down completely and whose return again sets him up for more hurts. Steve is the first person in a long time to make him feel special and to want him as is though Gil fights him every step of the way out of fear of being hurt again.  Gil is a truly inspirational character to have gone through so much hatred early in life and still be willing to put his heart on the line.  He's truly deserving of the man Steve is now and the happiness Steve longs to bring to him.The majority of the story is a slow build-up of trust to a final sexual interlude that is more about acceptance than sex.  There's a sense of hope at the end after so much heartache.  While this ending isn't a true HEA, there's a definite HFN conclusion that's just as satisfying.  Leading to this conclusion is one or two things that dragged this story down for me.  One of those was the sudden appearance of Chas, the ex who again brought heartache to Gil through his lying and cheating ways. He has no redeeming qualities and his sole purpose seemed to be to hurt Gil yet again and drive a wedge between him and Steve.  Considering how short the story is, valuable time was wasted on such a despicable character that should've been spent on advancing Gil and Steve's relationship.  Another thing that felt out of place was the street racing angle that was included and just as quickly excluded.  Barring these issues I still found much to enjoy and admire in Flawless and though there are some flaws I still recommend this story for its unique theme and for a truly memorable character in Gil.