Guest Post and Giveaway: Fiona Glass

Today I am so pleased to welcome Fiona Glass to Joyfully Jay.  Fiona is here to tell us more about her new rent boy story Necessity's Door, which I reviewed earlier today.  She also has a great giveaway so be sure to check out the details below.  Welcome Fiona!

Hi, my name is Fiona Glass and I write darkly humorous fiction, usually with gay characters and almost always with a twist in the tail...

Hmm. That makes me sound more like a member of Alcoholics Anonymous than an author. Perhaps I should start again! My name is Fiona Glass and I have a newly published book I'd like to tell you about. The book is called Necessity's Door, it's just been published by Riptide Publishers, and I had an absolute blast writing it. A very speedy blast, mind you, since I only discovered the call for submissions ten days before the deadline, and had an entire sixteen thousand word story to write in those ten days. Eeek.

It was my own fault really. A friend had mentioned Riptide some time ago and usually I trot along to check out new markets but for some reason this one had slipped through the net. Then the same friend mentioned that another friend, Anne Brooke, was having a book published by Riptide and I decided I really had to investigate it for myself. I hared over to the website, found the button marked "calls for submissions" and had a look.

The first thing I saw was that they specialise in gay fiction, which I've been writing for years. The second thing I saw was a call for stories about male prostitutes. I knew I had an old story wilting in my files that was about exactly that, so I hared off again, this time to rummage through old folders and boxes until I found the story I remembered. I'd hoped it wouldn't need much work and could be sent in after a brief polish, but when I re-read it I realised it wouldn't do at all. Part of the middle was effectively missing and the ending trailed off into nothingness, and it was far too short. So, I'd to settle down and pretty much re-write it from the ground up... in only ten days!

Well, I parked my arse in a chair and got typing and the result, as they say, is history. After a bit more rewriting and re-working the Riptide editors said 'yes please', I had a happy screaming fit in my study, and the book is now on the Riptide catalogue as part of the Rentboy collection.

So what's Necessity's Door about? Basically it tells the story of Jake, a British detective who goes undercover as a rentboy to try to trap Frank Warren, an unpleasant new crime boss in town with a liking for rough trade. Even with the help of his partner and best buddy Mac, Jake is getting nowhere fast and worse, he finds himself lured by the lifestyle he's forced to lead, and lured even more by his latest client Graham. Will he get to Warren before it's too late? Will he get out again with his virtue, his honour and even his life intact?

You'll just have to read Necessity's Door to find out!

Blurb
Being an openly-gay detective in Birmingham comes with its share of problems. For one, the pay is awful. For another, Jake always gets stuck with the crappy undercover jobs. Like posing as a prostitute to catch the new crime boss in town—a man notorious for rough sex with pretty young rentboys.

Jake’s latest op is fraught with difficulties, all of them men. Like his partner, Mac, who he’s secretly fancied for months. And his new client, Graham, who he keeps sleeping with for reasons far beyond maintaining his cover. And of course there’s the target, Frank Warren, who’s much harder to lure than Jake had anticipated.

The longer the job drags on, the tougher it gets for Jake to juggle his own needs with those of the job. They may be closing in on Warren, but Jake’s heart—and moral compass—are slipping through his fingers. Mac is there to back him up, but is he really the man Jake needs? Tough to tell among all those lies Jake's been telling himself and everyone else.

Like the sound of it? Want to read more? There’s an excerpt and further details at the Riptide Publishing website so feel free to click on over there and have an explore.

Giveaway
During this blog tour I’m holding a little contest with a variety of prizes. There’s a perfect-bound (ie print) copy of my earlier gay cop story, Any Means Necessary, a print copy of Radgepacket Volume 2 which contains my gay short story, Rock and a Hard Place, and various bits and pieces of general swag!

All you need to do is answer the following three simple questions, the answers to all of which can be found in Necessity’s Door. When you have the answers, email them to me personally and I’ll put all the correct entries into a hat (well, actually a willow-pattern bowl, but who’s checking...) and the first correct entry drawn from the bowl at the end of the blog tour will win the prize.

Here’s the questions:
1. What is the real name of The Blue Baboon gay club?
2. What colour is Frank Warren’s hair?
3. How much does Warren pay Jake for sex?

Think you know the answers? Then get emailing and good luck! I’m looking forward to hearing from you. And in the meantime if you’d like to find out more about me and my work, then please just drop into my website or my blog.

Review: Necessity's Door by Fiona Glass

Title: Necessity's Door
Author: Fiona Glass
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Length: Short Story
Buy Links: Amazon | All Romance

Rating: 3.5 stars

Jake is a detective working undercover to catch Frank Warren, a new crime boss in town.  As the force's only openly gay detective, Jake has been assigned to pose as a rent boy to lure Warren, a man with a reputation for buying young, attractive men off the street.  Jake is helped along by his partner Mac, to whom Jake is quite attracted, although Mac is decidedly straight.

Things aren't going well with the assignment.  Jake has had no luck attracting Warren, and he is exhausted and frustrated at the long hours and the poor pay.  One night, Jake is hired by an attractive man named Graham, and ends up finding himself quite taken with the man.  He forgets himself a bit, staying with Graham over two hours rather than quickly getting back on the street.  The next night, just as it looks like he might have hooked Warren, Graham spots him once again, throwing off the assignment and frustrating Mac who senses something more is going on between them.  Jake is also struggling with the lure of the  money -- he owes a lot on his home and part of him is tempted to keep at least some of the cash he is making from the clients.  As Jake continues his assignment, he must continue to balance his feelings for Mac and his growing attraction to Graham, while still doing his job and catching Warren.

Hmm, ok, this was an interesting one.  I really liked the set up and the idea behind this story.  I love rent boys and I was intrigued by the idea of the young detective working undercover and the potential tension between him and his growing love interest.  But unfortunately, there were a lot of places where the story felt like it didn't totally hold together for me.

First, I will say I was thrown by the idea that Jake actually sleeps with all the random guys who try to buy his services while undercover.  I will be the first to admit that I know nothing about undercover work, especially in England, but do vice cops posing as prostitutes really sleep with all those folks? I guess if he arrested them all (or even just scared them off) it could get back to Warren, but wow, that would be an intense job.  Maybe I am way off base but it just struck me as odd.  But please correct me if I am wrong, because as I said, this is not my area of expertise.

Aside from that issue, I found some things confusing as well.  For example, when Graham runs into Jake the second night, Jake is totally freaked out that Mac might recognize him, somehow giving away Jake's interest in Graham.  But why not let Mac to think Graham is a client coming back for more (which he was)?  Instead Mac assumes Graham is a friend or love interest of Jake's who he's inappropriately engaging with while working.  I just didn't understand why Jake wouldn't just tell Mac that Graham was a client. It certainly seemed the lesser of the two evils.  This was just such a big issue in the story and I totally didn't understand the logic or how it played out.

Also, Jake is tempted to keep some of the money he is getting from his clients.  He says no one but he and Graham know about it so he could keep it without anyone being the wiser.  But Mac saw him go with Graham.  Wouldn't he know about the money?  Certainly he expects Jake to get paid.  I just felt like there were multiple issues like this, where things just didn't make sense to me.

I also must say that the relationship between Graham and Jake just didn't work for me.  Basically Jake has feelings for Graham almost immediately, despite the fact he is on the job and has only spent a couple hours with him having sex.  They then have two other very brief encounters that are basically quick sex, no other getting to know you stuff. So I had a hard time seeing where an emotional connection was growing between them.  Certainly not enough to lead to the strong feelings Jake has or to where things end up between them at the end of the book.  I just didn't feel any chemistry between them or relationship development.

On the other hand, I did like Jake's relationship with Mac, and felt like that was nicely developed.  Glass does a nice job showing the connection between them, both as work partners and friends.  I like the way they handle Jake's attraction and how Mac takes it in stride, not freaking out but still being clear he is not interested.  It is obvious he cares about his friend and makes an effort not to hurt him.

So unfortunately this one wasn't a total winner for me. There were some interesting elements and parts that worked nicely, but too much just didn't come together for me.

Cover Review: Oh, I like this cover.  The cover model feels like Jake and I like the way the bar in the background features a key element of the story.

Be sure to check out Fiona Glass' guest post later today where she talks more about Necessity's Door and shares a great giveaway!  

Guest Review: Armed & Dangerous by Abigail Roux

Guest Review by Melanie
Title: Armed & Dangerous (Cut & Run #5)
Author: Abigail Roux
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Length: Novel
Buy Links: Amazon | All Romance

Rating: 5 stars

"I'm sorry. The walls are closing in and I need to go. Love you."

And with that note, Ty Grady was gone, leaving Zane Garrett to wake up alone after finally declaring his love for partner. Missing Ty, and with his frustration levels rising by the minute, Zane prowls the hallways of the Bureau in search of anything to occupy his time. When the Bureau Chief sends him as backup to an agent on a specialty mission, Zane is astonished to find out that the agent he is meeting is none other than his missing partner, Ty. Their mission? To retrieve and escort part-time CIA operative and assassin Julian Cross (Warrior's Cross) to Washington, DC, to testify against his former employers, whether Cross wants to or not. In this case, it's definitely not. Cross won't go.

Julian retired after the events of Warriors Cross and has moved in with his love, Cameron Jacobs in Chicago. And nothing, including a couple of FBI agents, is going to take him away from that. Ty and Zane have orders that say otherwise and when the four come together, the explosions and gunfire reverberate from Chicago to Washington. Fighting not only each other but agents from other agencies as more and more people pursue them across state after state, Ty and Zane must also work on their newfound relationship as the present mission and Ty's past threaten to come between them. Sometimes being Armed & Dangerous is just not enough to see them through the dangers ahead.

Armed & Dangerous is the 5th book in the Cut & Run series started originally by Madeleine Urban and Abigail Roux in 2008, and in my opinion, is the most satisfying book of the series. This is a remarkable book, made even more so by the fact that Abigail Roux is now writing the series alone. To take nothing away from the terrific job Urban did together with Roux on the previous books, it is clear that Roux was right to carry on with Ty and Zane even without her. Years of coauthoring the books have given Roux decisive knowledge of both Ty and Zane (and their unique personalities) so that the writing is seamless between this book and Divide & Conquer, the previous novel. Only in the absence of Urban's name on the cover does the difference between the books become apparent.

Roux is a master of location and she visits the cities where her characters reside and travel. She often posts pictures of her research travels on her website. Such thoroughness and authenticity is appreciated and apparent in the way she captures the flavor of the neighborhoods in Baltimore, as well as Chicago. As someone who lives in the DC area and has visited Chicago, I feel she has the cities spot on, including the Verizon Center and The Greene Turtle. I really applaud that extra effort in an author and think it contributes so much to the story that a realistically described locale can become a character all its own in a novel.

In addition to location, her descriptions of the fighting, explosions, and, in an hilarious scene, TSA search methods, are all so incredibly written that the story moves forward at a pace that keeps time with your heart, beating rapidly with anxiety and anticipation as the story builds to its conclusion. But its with the characters, and what characters they are, that Roux really shines.

Ty Grady and Zane Garrett are two of the most complicated (and charismatic) protagonists in a relationship that I can remember. Absolutely wonderful creations at the beginning, each has continued to evolve and strengthen as the series continues, the reader learning about them as they learn about each other, adjusting by small increments to the partnership the Bureau foisted upon them. This journey continues with Armed & Dangerous as Ty and Zane's relationship reaches a new stage. The insecurities that have hounded both men and kept them from acknowledging their love are slowly let go, the men finally on the same page at the same time. To appreciate the struggles these men have gone through to get to this level, it is imperative that the books be read in the order they are written. Ty and Zane have faced down their own demons, including drugs and alcohol, as well as the Bureau's use of their abilities and still gone forward in their relationship, to each other's surprise. These men are beautifully written, each with their own unique personality and a dialog that reflects that individuality in each phrase they utter. It is no wonder that these men have rabid fans with Team Zane or Team Ty t-shirts of their own. I *cough* am a fan of both.

In each book, a layer of the past is pealed back, revealing more of one of the main characters background. Here it is Ty's turn and some of the revelations are truly unexpected, including the real reason he joined the military. I really wasn't expecting that one. And that is just another one of the many pleasures these books, and this one in particular, deliver. I never know what will happen next. Roux kept me guessing right up until the end and then some. I love that. Also it's the tricks of the trade that Ty, Zane, and Julian employ to frustrate, roadblock, and totally disable those trying to apprehend them that amaze me as well. Wait until you get to the doorknob maneuver. Amazing.

But all the neat bells and whistles won't help if you don't have a great plot filled with tremendous characters. That Armed & Dangerous has in spades. Ty and Zane are joined here by Julian Cross, an enigmatic Irish assassin and his lover, Cameron, a waiter in an upscale restaurant. Yes, you read that correctly, that would be Cameron the waiter. Definitely not a person you would expect to find paired up with such a dangerous individual as Julian Cross. But Cameron is more than his unremarkable exterior and a lovely layered character in his own right. Julian is not your typical assassin either as he comes complete with his own driver, Preston, and a pair of wicked Maine Coon cats named Smith and Wesson. I have loved all of them since their introduction in Warrior's Cross and was thrilled to see them brought into this story. To fully appreciate both characters, again I will direct you to read their backstory in the book I just mentioned. To read Armed & Dangerous without reading Warrior's Cross or any of the other Cut & Run books, is only to skim the surface of the ocean, missing all the life, formations, and depth that make up the whole. If you are already a fan of these books, you know what I mean. If you are new to the series, stop reading this and head out to get Cut & Run. No reading from the back! I know who you are!

Abigail Roux is an amazing author. Armed & Dangerous is an fabulous example of her talent. I can't wait for the next story in the Cut & Run series. I need to know what happens next to Ty and Zane. And to Julian, Cameron, and those darn cats. That's what happens with great characters, they live beyond their pages and reside in our hearts. Ty and Zane do both.

Here is the series in the order they must be read to fully appreciate the characters and the growth of their relationship:

• Cut and Run
• Sticks and Stones
• Fish and Chips
• Warriors Cross ( Julian and Cameron's story - side novel to Cut & Run series) 
• Armed and Dangerous

Note: All books but Armed & Dangerous were written by both Madeline Urban and Abigail Roux together.  Armed & Dangerous by Abigail Roux alone.  

Cover: I love the covers on this series. Simple yet elegant. And yes, handcuffs appear often in this story so this is perfect. Love it.

Review: Gambling Men by Amy Lane

Title: Gambling Men
Author: Amy Lane
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Length: Novel
Buy Links: Amazon | All Romance

Rating: 4.25

Jason Spade and Quent Jackson started off as college roommates, moved on to being work partners, and have been best friends for the last eight years.  When we first meet them in Gambling Men, Jace has finally seen his opening with Quent, sensing the man may actually return his interest, and makes his move.

It turns out that Quent does in fact have feelings for his best friend.  Although he has previously only been interested in women, for years Jace has been the one man he can imagine being with.  When Jace makes it clear that he is interested, Quent is thrilled to begin a romantic relationship to go along with their close friendship and business partnership.

The guys have been so close for so long, that their romance blossoms quickly and fairly easily.  They know how to read one another, know what the other needs, and are not afraid to open themselves up emotionally. Even Jace who struggles with showing any weakness or need is willing to put himself out there for Quent, whom he loves deeply and with his whole self.

The men have a regular poker game with some friends, and the spirit of the game is evident throughout the book.  Jace, who was raised by his uncle and his uncle's partner, was taught poker early on and is a firm believer that poker models life.  He is competitive, bold, and always wants to win. Despite that, he is a likable guy, if a bit prickly at times.  And those things that make him great at poker also make him great at business.   He is the leader of the company, their partnership, and their relationship.  Ever since college, Jace led and Quent followed.

There is no bitterness or conflict here though; Quent happily accepts their roles and loves Jace's competitiveness and confidence.  Jace is one of those guys who is prickly and strong on the outside, but soft and gooey when Quent is around.  And although Quent is the follower, he is not a pushover.  He is willing to stand up for what he wants, and doesn't let anyone walk all over him, including Jace.  But he is also a sweetheart, the one the office staff go to with problems, the one who knows the names of the old ladies in the building.  Quent is the balance for Jace and the two of them fit perfectly together.

Gambling Men is an interesting book because it is so tightly focused on the relationship between the two men. It is virtually completely character driven, delving into the heart of things between Jace and Quent. I never found it boring, but there is not really a strong plot, just a detailed look into Jace and Quent and how they are making things work together.

Although there is no strong conflict, that is not to say the men don't have their issues.  Jace struggles with letting go a bit.  After losing his parents at a young age, and his uncle and his partner a few years ago, he worries about losing Quent as well, and needs frequent reassurance.  When Quent gets hurt, Jace panics, unable to bear the idea of something happening to another person he loves.  The guys also sometimes relate a bit too much through the lens of the poker, challenging each other and framing things in terms of the game.  At the times they need to remember to talk directly to each other when they have issues, not always through the framework of the game.  But in general, the book really focuses on the details of their relationship, the growth each man makes emotionally, and the love between them.  Overall pretty low on the Amy Lane angst meter!

I will say that as interesting as I found the poker theme and as well as I think Lane weaves it into the story, there were times when it got a bit much for me.  Not so much thematically, but the frequent use of poker metaphors between the men. They seem to be constantly "putting the cards on the table," "going all in," "raising the stakes," etc. Even for poker fanatics, it is hard to imagine people talking that way quite so much.

I found this story to be a lovely, quiet romance.  We really get to see the intimate details of the love growing between Jace and Quent.  Without lots of conflict and plot twists, our focus is purely on the men themselves and their relationship.  I loved to see their personal growth (especially Jace) and their growth as a couple together.  They are super hot together (super hot!), which makes the book both sweet and really sexy.  I enjoyed it quite a bit and definitely recommend it.

Guest Review: Always MJ by SJD Peterson

Guest Review by Sammy
Title: Always MJ
Author: SJD Peterson
Publisher: Silver Publishing
Length: Novella
Buy Links: Amazon | All Romance

Rating: 4.5 stars

Matty (Matthew Jonathon Parker) is a wee bit of a nerd…a perfectionist…a “list” kind of guy… with a heart of gold. Consequently he has had one failed relationship after another, often with guys simply leaving him after being less than stellar partners, and needless to say, fairly hurtful and callous. All this means that Matty is a cautious young man, who rarely deviates from what he considers to be the safe, most efficient pathway. So what exactly is he doing in an online chatroom talking with perhaps “the one,” falling in love with “the one," and, as our story opens, flying hours to Florida to meet up with “Jay” whom he is pretty sure he wants to spend the rest of his life with, cause he is “the one”?

To be honest, Matt is losing his mind, in a very funny, sharp, and, at times, poignant way. Always MJ by SJD Peterson is a lovely little novella that examines the emotional ups and downs of online dating and real life meet-ups with hilarious and heart breaking clarity. The story is quite simple in its brilliant way. Matty has had numerous relationships that have always ended badly. His best friend Jared, a straight talking, wise cracking guy whom he has known since college, is often there to help him through, when he needs him the most.

So imagine Matty’s surprise when, after a full blown panic attack where his best friend Jared talks him down via phone, that same friend ends up staring across at him a few hours later at the agreed upon rendezvous site. But that can’t possibly be so…he had just spoken to his best friend. And he was supposed to be meeting Jay…Jay…Jared. Jared was Jay, the online person whom Matty had fallen in love with. His best friend, who in real life was straight, flitted from one girl to another, had never been in a lasting relationship and was the kind of person that was always “making jokes.” Oh god…Jay’s online name was “always making jokes”…just like Jared.

What follows in this fast-paced, tight little story is Matty coming to the realization that his best friend had betrayed him by pretending to be the online persona Always MJ, who had professed to having fallen in love with Matty. What Matty comes to find out will completely turn his world upside down and cause him to take the biggest risk of his life. This from a man who hates taking risks but who desperately wants to believe that his best friend is really in love with him.

Peterson hands us a lovely character study wrapped up in a 48-hour love affair that actually spans years. I loved these two men for totally different reasons. Jared was sharp and witty and so very vulnerable under his rough, somewhat snarky exterior. He had fallen in love with his best friend and had no idea how to tell him. Matty was a bundle of raw nerves poured into the slightly introverted body of a really nice guy, one who so very often got taken advantage of but who really just wanted to find someone to love…someone like his best friend Jared.

Perhaps the only niggle I had with Always MJ was Matty’s slightly over the top reaction to his discovery of who “Jay” really was. I felt as though the white-hot anger Matty felt went on a bit too long, was a bit too dramatic. I understood the need for the reaction and actually was glad to see that Matty had backbone enough to stand up to his very forceful friend. However, I felt it was too prolonged and did not allow for the story to progress and continue to develop the more loving relationship that we knew was there between the two men.

Despite this small annoyance, the novel really was a delightful story with a HEA that had me sighing in delight!!

Guest Review: Short Story Roundup

Today Melanie has reviews of three short stories from Silver Publishing - Abstract Realism, Don't Judge a Book..., and Absent-minded Astrophysicist.

Title: Abstract Realism
Author: Edward Kendricks
Rating: 4 stars
Buy Links: Amazon | All Romance

Tonio, a renowned painter of abstract realism, made the mistake of accepting an invitation for a movie date from a man he had just met at a gallery opening. The man's jealous lover savagely attacked him with a knife. Now scarred and traumatized, Tonio rarely leaves his studio. His only contact with the outside world consists of his sister, Jessie, who is also his agent. With a gallery holding a new show of his paintings, Jessie finally talks him into attending the opening and go to the gallery party afterwards.

Jonam is also attending the gallery show. He owns a protection agency and had met Tonio by accident in a nearby park. Tonio had been sketching and rejected Jonam's efforts to talk to him. When Jonam attends the gallery show, Tonio does his best to avoid him. But Tonio's attacker calls and threatens him just before the party. When her brother doesn't show up for the party, Jessie and Jonam go to Tonio's apartment and the find the man cowering in fear. Jonam offers to protect Tonio and find out who's behind the threats. Can Jonam find the attacker and free Tonio from the threats and fears?

The author packs a lot into a short story.  There is contemporary romance, mystery, the art world, a scarred artist, and lethal stalker. Kendricks did a great job with Tonio. He is a believable character, traumatized by a brutal attack on him by unseen thugs. The scars left behind are both physical and emotional. I can believe that this character retreats into a shell and that his art changes direction with the brutality inflicted upon him. That the attack was unexpected and undeserved only deepened the trauma left behind. I did find it unrealistic that the police were not brought into this case, especially given he was a well-known artist, but PTSD can make victims act illogically. Jonam was a tad less defined as a character. He was tall, good looking and efficient at his job. It wasn't until the end of the story that I found out he was Swedish and that accounted for his name. More of a backstory on Jonam early on would have helped. It was hard to get a feel for a connection between the two men when I could only get a handle on one of them. The story seemed rushed at the end and the denouement resolved far too quickly for the buildup that preceded it.

Still Abstract Realism is a neat little short story that I enjoyed reading. I look forward to more from Edward Kendricks.

Cover: Cover is gorgeous. Both models work for the characters inside the story. Fonts are great. Good job.

Review: Vanished by J.P. Barnaby

Title: Vanished (Little Boy Lost #3)
Author: J.P. Barnaby
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Length: Novel
Buy Links: Amazon | All Romance

Rating: 4.75

Vanished is the third book in Barnaby's fabulous Little Boy Lost series, following Enlightened and Abandoned.  This is a continuous story and Vanished picks up moments after the previous book ends.  So be aware this review will have spoilers for the previous books and I'd definitely recommend reading them in order.

So in Vanished, Brian is finally 18 and heading out to San Diego to look for Jamie.  He is part excited to be getting out there and part terrified of leaving home and giving up the more secure path college offered. It is Brian's first time out of the state and the bus ride is a bit of an overwhelming experience, especially when he runs into some trouble.  But as the days go on, he begins to adjust and get ready to begin his search in earnest.

But before Brian can begin looking for Jamie, he has to get himself settled with a job and a place to live.  He is delighted to find a room in a boarding house full of other gay young men. For the first time, Brian is in an environment where being gay is accepted and he is welcomed into the group, quickly making close friends.  The job situation is a bit harder, and although he manages to find something, it is not enough to cover all his expenses and Brian fears he will run out of money before ever finding Jamie.

Unfortunately, the search for Jamie proves quite difficult. Even after months and months searching, Brian is nowhere closer to finding him.  Jamie is no longer in the Sunshine Center, but beyond that, there are no real leads.  Brian begins to face the fact that he may never find Jamie.  After having this be his sole focus for well over a year, Brian now has to start thinking about what to do with his life if he never finds him.  He realizes that he loves his life in California -- the friends, the independence, the acceptance -- and he has no desire to return to Alabama even if he doesn't find Jamie.  But Brian's financial situation continues to be his biggest threat to success and with money running out it may just be a matter of time before the decision to go home is made for him.  He must now hope that he can find Jamie before it is too late.

Oh, this book was so good, another wonderful installment in this fabulous series!  I love the way Barnaby frames each book slightly differently, even as they continue the same saga. In Enlightened, it is all about Jamie and Brian and the book is tightly focused on the two of them and their relationship. In Abandoned, it is all Brian, and we see him develop a small circle of family and loved ones that finally give him a sense of belonging and connection with someone other than Jamie.  And here in Vanished, I feel like Brian finally comes into his own.  He really thrives in San Diego, transitioning from that shy kid to a more independent, happy man.  This story really focuses on Brian becoming his own person and learning to make his way in the world.

When Brian arrives he is scared and overwhelmed.  After surviving the beating from Brad Mosely, Brian is often freaked out with big crowds and the huge city is overwhelming to him.  But soon he begins to settle in, both to life in San Diego and with the other other guys who live at the boarding house.  My favorite part about this story is seeing Brian interact with his friends.  He comes to San Diego having been hated for being gay, yet here he finds acceptance. He quickly becomes one of the group, making lots of close friends.  The guys open him up to new experiences and awaken his sexuality in a way different from what he had with Jamie.  Brian and Jamie's relationship was all about sweetness and love.  But here Brian learns to flirt, to play, and even to enjoy some casual sex with his good friends Mike and Emilio.  Although he has a hard time at first worrying he is betraying Jamie, Brian realizes that he may never find him and can't put his life on hold forever.  I am sure some readers won't like this, but I was happy to see Brian learn to have fun and enjoy life.  After almost two miserable years, he deserves to relax and be happy, without worrying all the time.  I enjoyed seeing him find and enjoy that sexual side of himself.

Although we don't see much of Jamie in this book, we do learn that he made a huge sacrifice to protect Brian.  I think this was important for the story, and to me as a reader, to see that things aren't all one sided. After such a long absence from the books, I needed to feel like Jamie is as committed to Brian as Brian is to him, and this went a long way to easing my fears.  I also liked seeing how Brian keeps in touch with his parents, and that their relationship continues to strengthen even with him in California.

Vanished is another fabulous installment in this wonderful series -- exciting, romantic, very sexy, and a bit heartbreaking. It is a bit lighter and happier than the previous book, which I enjoyed.  Vanished moves the saga along nicely and sets things up perfectly for the second half of the series.  Highly recommended read.

Cover Review: Oh, I wish I was happier with these covers. They don't do poor Brian justice. He is supposed to be a hot sexy twink, and this guy just doesn't convey that.  Although I do appreciate the attempts at continuity with the models.