JenB's profile

HANDYMAN by Claire Thompson, December 13, 2008

I actually like this storyline: wealthy businessman falls in love with the hot tradesman working on his house/car/garden/etc. It's a clich� and it's not quite realistic, but it's a fun fantasy nevertheless.

Handyman has its flaws, but overall it's a very nice story. Will is sexy and confident. He's never had a serious relationship and has always been hesitant to settle down, and he doesn't know quite what to make of his feelings for deeply-closeted Jack. Jack is strong, honest, and uncertain about his sexuality. He's been mourning the loss of his wife for two years and wonders if he might finally be ready for a new start.

This story has some good angst. It's… Read more

Only Words, December 4, 2008

This is a simple yet incredibly emotional manga about a Polish seminary student and a Hitler Youth. The subject matter is dark and controversial, yet somehow the story is still sweet and touching. The artwork is hauntingly beautiful, and more of the story takes place in the drawings than in the words on the pages. The little bit of sex in the book is rather explicit. The story does not have a happy ending, however, and the novel takes less than half an hour to finish. Fair or not, those two issues did affect my overall enjoyment.

While I would happily recommend Only Words to manga collectors and fans of poignant and heartfelt artwork, I'm not sure I recommend it for the casual… Read more

Taboo Desires by Amanda Young, December 4, 2008

Amanda Young is one of my "sure thing" authors whose books I pick up when I want to be guaranteed a good read. I've read most of her books, and so far I haven't found anything I didn't like. Her characters are realistic, her love scenes are hot without being purple or cheesy, her narrative is smooth, her dialogue is natural...she's just a great writer.

This is a hot little novella (50-odd pages) about a guy that finally decides he's done with women. The same day he decides to act upon his same-sex fantasies, he runs across the younger brother of an old friend. Sparks fly, things get hot, and the rest is history.

I admit the "supposedly straight guy turns gay" story… Read more