Review: Bob the Destroyer of Leads
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 4, 2014
I've heard of some interesting ways of getting together, but meeting someone because they just hit your dog with their car has to be one of the most drastic ever. In 'Bob Destroyer of Leads' by Sue Brown, this is precisely how Will Duffy meets Lawrence Taylor; not a good way to start by any means, but somehow, because of Bob's bad behavior, the two men learn that even out of an accident can come a silver lining.To say that Will's people skills are not up to par is an understatement, but he has a good reason. His parents were both killed in an accident; Will was the only survivor. Tormented by guilt and fear, Will shut down; even after five years, he is still plagued with doubt and uncertainty when in social situations. Will avoids becoming attached to anyone for fear of losing them. He thinks he can't survive feeling the pain associated with their loss. So his inside circle consists of him, his dog, Bob, and the sweet little old lady next door who has known him all of his life. Bob loves Will but, much to Will's dismay, Bob is stubborn and refuses to be trained. Caring for Bob is part of Will's therapy though; Bob keeps him up and moving, doing things he wouldn't do on his own, i.e., going for walks, interacting with people, taking Bob to the vet. After Lawrence hits Bob, whether he likes it or not, Will gains a constant companion and, soon afterwards, gains his vet and his lover as friends as well. For the most part, Will doesn't mind Lawrence managing his life, but when it gets to be too much, Will lets him know that he's not the only one who can be stubborn. As Lawrence and Will get closer, he actually begins to enjoy the domesticity, until his old defense mechanisms kick in. Instead of reassuring him, they cause him to panic and the negative messages he's tried to hard to banish in his head telling him that he doesn't deserve to be happy. Will reacts by sending a baffled and brokenhearted Lawrence away. Will needs to get a grip on his fear and discover the truth about his feelings for Lawrence, because, as annoying as Lawrence is sometimes, Will knows in his heart that he cares deeply for him and doesn't want to lose him.Lawrence comes on strong. He's driven, determined, stubborn, and compulsive. He must take control and when he knows he's right, Lawrence is compelled to fix the situation, as efficiently and rapidly as possible, regardless of what anyone else thinks about it. He knows who he is and what he wants. Lawrence doesn't understand being wishy-washy or indecisive about something. He and Will clash like crazy because Will takes longer to consider things and doesn't always come up with the best possible solution to problems; Lawrence takes the lead, meaning to help Will and relieve him of the responsibility of having to decide for himself. Will picks his battles though and, for the most part, Lawrence gets his way. Even though Lawrence seems distant and overbearing, he's lonely. He really likes Will and wants the best for him, he just doesn't know how to back off enough to let Will make up his own mind for good or bad. Truthfully, Lawrence wants nothing more than to have Will in his life. Now, it's a matter of learning how to show Will that he means it.This is a delightful, quirky love story which is very subtle in its portrayal of both men's feelings which, unlike Americans would do by confessing their undying love with a fair amount of fuss and bother, are lurking just beneath the surface, where any good Brit would keep them, voicing them in barbs and banter instead of directly. It was interesting to watch the push-me-pull-me effect caused by Will's fears while trying to work out their relationship in a way that is uniquely theirs. It was good to see Evan and Peter from book one again and to know that they continue to do well and, last but not least, meet Bob and watch him run rings around his unsuspecting humans, presenting a challenge that Lawrence may come to dread.  Thank you, Sue, for another delightful addition to the Lyon Roads Vet series. I'm looking forward to reading the next one.Originally published at Rainbow Book Reviews.