title: Seventeen Nights
author: Leightley, David
description: Was it the bleak month of February that set him on his way – or was it simply guilt? Who’s to know back when the sun is hard to find on the west coast of Ireland? Paul Collins is about to embark upon a journey and there are some cold hard facts you should know about this young man. Well, really, it can be summed up in a few words… the man is an emotional mess… but a handsome bastard nevertheless. Be swept up, dare to breath as you a ride with him through Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Understand as you set off from Madrid, Paul Collins has an aversion to anyone saying they love him. He avoids situations that provoke memories of dark, damp dismal places and an intense dislike of narrow single beds… especially metal-framed beds. What he does like is sex… a line of one-night stands: which, when it comes down to it – its all he can handle… and of course with men. What he isn’t expecting on this trip is for people to poke about in his life. Take Lily for example. Here’s a woman that evokes gentleness in him. Then there’s Doreen! Waspish, a fly in anyone’s ointment is accompanied by her friend, Sammy. Of course there’s trouble! And as always, Paul is in the thick of it! Then there’s Honey Rose and her husband Willy with special needs take a chance on Cockney Doreen as their source of entertainment. David, a young Australian charmed into Paul’s bed is pursued by a dream across two continents on the memory of a Portuguese who wants more. There are other confused people helped along the way by Paul Collins who is a man still in search of himself. Antonio Rodriguez is Paul’s biggest challenge on the tour – and he just happens to be their tour guide. He has dreams and isn’t prepared for Paul Collins shattering everything he believes in – including his faith in god. Is what develops between Paul and Antonio over seventeen nights enough time to extinguish their deep fear of love?