Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Another very cute, very SHORT little novella in the London Lads universe. I kid you not, the blurb covers 95% of the story.
It all starts with Mitzi and Bess, two feisty little old ladies who only want the very best for their great nephew Dylan. They have a standing date for tea and cakes with him every week, and have been not so gently encouraging him to find somebody special. They’re a little bit manipulative as well, and clearly know more than they are letting on as they tease Dylan about his neighbor Josie. And her good-looking brother Neal.
Dylan is very conscious of how conservative and gossipy his little town is. He’s a teacher, and feels he has a certain reputation to uphold, and being gay doesn’t really fit with his ideal. So he hides it. Neal is a journalist who covers stories all over the world, and his life is full of excitement and freedom. He’s only in town for a few days each month, and though they’ve been together since they first met months ago, Dylan has been extremely careful about making sure that they aren’t seen together so no one will suspect the truth.
How can these two men, from such different worlds, find a way to be together for good? Who will be the one to compromise? Will Dylan finally admit to his aunts that he is gay and obtain their blessing? Will the aunts get fed up with all the secrecy and expose everything??? (Personally, I also wanted to know how the aunts identify, the initial set up made me think they were lovers, but then they started flirting with another old man, so maybe there is a geriatric threesome going on? They may be gossips, but these little biddies clearly had some secrets of their own!)
For answers, you have to read the book! It will take you an hour, tops. Don’t expect any great characterization or extensive plot, the story is way too short for that. But it was a nice way to fritter away a bit of an evening at home…
Cover art by Valerie Tibbs shows two smiling men I could very easily imagine as Dylan and Neal. Too bad Mitzi and Bess didn’t fit on the cover with them!
Sales Links:
Book Details:
ebook, 2nd Edition, 60 pages
Published April 19th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press (first published 2009)
ISBN 163533411X (ISBN13: 9781635334111)
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesLondon Lads #3
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 