A MelanieM Review: Truly, Madly, Boys – A Mad About The Brit Boys Anthology by JL Merrow & Josephine Myles.

Love—the most intense connection.

The challenge of finding love in the world today can take many forms, but at its heart love is the same: it’s all about forging a connection with another person. Experience romance at its most relatable in these four contemporary stories of male-male love with a British flavour from award-winning authors Josephine Myles and JL Merrow.

In these stories you’ll find out how to communicate without words, be teased by a memory that’s just out of reach, flash back to young love and emerging sexuality, and discover how opposites can attract when you meet a stranger in a strange land.

These stories have all been previously published, but are now available exclusively in this anthology.

 I am such a fan of both authors J.L. Merrow and Josephine Myles and here in the fifth of the Mad about the Brit Boys Anthology you get a wonderful selection of why they are such a joy to read.  Their ability to bring these young men vividly to life as well as the situations they find themselves in through such a short number of pages is amazing.    I have to admit my favorite starts off the collection.  Written not from a Brits pov, but a startlingly accurate New York state of mind that I loved, I jumped into this relationship and wished J.L. could  have kept going I loved them so much.

But lets look at them one at a time.

When security guard Vinnie spots a young British guy, Gray, looking lost on a New York street, he thinks he’s never seen anyone so beautiful. The feeling’s mutual: concert pianist Gray loves everything about the huge muscle man who’s offering to walk him back to his hotel. When they stop off at Vinnie’s apartment, sparks fly—but when they finally get back to Gray’s hotel, things seem to fall apart. Is one afternoon all they’ll ever have?

Great voices, characters you instantly connected with and a vibe and location that oozed New York City.  This story had it all except that, of course, I wanted so much more of them all, including the meeting of the families.  Really, if the author accepted bribes, I would bribe her for that story.

When Charlie wakes up alone after arguing with his boyfriend the night before, it seems like nothing will resolve the situation. Josh wants them to move, but Charlie is too attached to the house. It’s not just all the work he’s put into it, though, it’s all the memories. One memory in particular, of standing hidden halfway up the stairs, watching and wanting…

Another just lovely telling story.  A house full of memories, a couple post argument, and a past memory that, in a sexy, and oh so beautifully flowing story shows both the couples past, present and future.  I loved this.  And it was complete in every way.  Nothing more felt needed.

Blinded by a drunk driver, Colin is haunted by a sense memory—the smell of wood chippings. When he meets up with Alban, who he’s been chatting with online, he finally finds out why.

I liked this story.  The author totally blindsided me with the direction she took it.  Lovely.  I wish I had a bit more about the characters but it was clean and gave me enough to connect with the main character and the ending.

Is that gorgeous redheaded hunk on the building site really checking him out? Nick thinks it’s worth the risk of getting his head kicked in to find out. Only trouble is, Nick tends to end up spoiling things with his nervous babbling. This time he’s going to have to keep his mouth shut. It’s either that or he’ll have to find some other way to occupy it…

Josephine Myles takes two disabilities and combines them in a romantic and charming way.  Stuttering and hearing impaired?  Not a combination you might think of?  Well, here it works in a way that Myles lets us into Nick’s thoughts, his nervousness and finally his ability to overcome his insecurities to go after the man he wants.  Its charming, it treats the men and their disabilities with intelligences and clarity.   Another winner.

If you are already familiar with these authors, this is a collection you won’t want to miss.  But if J.L. Merrow and Josephine Myles are both new to you, I can’t think of a better way for you to get acquainted than to pick up this collection and start reading.   I highly recommend it and the other Mad About the Brit Boy Anthologies.

Kindle Edition, 78 pages
Published June 10th 2016
ASINB01GXR3BU4
Edition LanguageEnglish