Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
I am quite torn about this book and review. While I absolutely love Tara Lain’s “Love in Laguna” series, so far this series has left me wanting. While I did enjoy the story line and the characterizations, the writing as a whole seems to be inferior (to me!) to the other series. But, I will try to give you a fair review here.
Rodney is a local artist with a super crush on a firefighter. So much of a crush that he semi-stalks the firehouse hoping to get a glimpse of him. He believes this is all in vain because he assumes that Hunter is straight.
Hunter is a firefighter, living out his father’s dream, when really he wants to be a teacher. And even though he lives in a very gay friendly town, he isn’t really out. Especially with a homophobic co-worker.
But then Rodney’s friend starts crushing on Hunter as well and thinking that Hunter would go for surfer manly Jerry instead of sort of fem, total artist him, he acts as matchmaker. But that is a hard façade to maintain when he is painting Hunter. In the nude.
I absolutely LOVED Rodney. I loved the artist, the friend and the completely unapologetic gay man. He has no problem being flamboyant, and if you have a problem with it- too bad. Hunter was cute and while I did like him I wanted to smack him and tell him to grow a spine.
The dynamic between Rodney and Hunter was great. The author did a great job of challenging stereotypical norms with them. It was quite refreshing.
So while I did enjoy the book and the characters, the level of writing just wasn’t at the caliber I expect of Tara Lain.
The book is part of a series, but can be read as a stand alone.
The cover art by Reese Dante is an excellent depiction of both main characters.
Sales Links
Book Details:
ebook, 2nd Edition
Expected publication: February 8th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press (first published January 31st 2012)
ISBN 1634773640 (ISBN13: 9781634773645)
Edition LanguageEnglish
settingCalifornia (United States)
SeriesBalls to the Wall :
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 