Second Helpings by Charlie CochraneRelease Date: July 21st 2014 from Riptide Publishing
Stuart Collins’s life might as well have ended a year ago when his partner died in a car crash. Even Stuart’s widowed father has found new love with an old friend, Isabel Franklin, so why can’t Stuart be bothered to try?
Then he gets a phone call from Isabel’s son, Paul, who wants to check out whether or not Mr. Collins is good enough for his mother. During dinner together, though, they end up checking out each other. Trouble is, Paul’s got a boyfriend—or maybe he doesn’t, since the boyfriend’s supposedly giving Paul the push by ignoring him. Or maybe Paul just wants to have his cake and eat it too.
Honesty with each other is the only way to move forward. But maybe honesty with themselves is what they really need.
4/5 stars ...
Stuart Collins loves his job in forensics, even if some of the cases hit him a little hard, like when children are involved. He’s pretty much wrapped in his work and drops everything, literally, if they call him in. Since the death of his partner a year ago, he hasn’t even tried to date again. But he is starting to feel the bite of lonliness, hell, even his father is dating again!
Paul Franklin is missing his boyfriend Ben, who has moved back home to attend to his mom. Ben has seemingly cut off all contact with Paul, not responded to texts or emails, not picking up when Paul calls or returning messages. But Paul has other things on his mind now, like getting to know the man his mom is dating. So he sets up a meeting with the man’s son, Stuart.
Over beers at a local pub, Stuart and Paul share stories about their childhood and their love lives and they learn each of them is gay. But Paul has a temper and soon it sends Stuart speeding away without so much as a goodbye. A second chance is given and the two meet for dinner, and this is where the majority of the book takes place. Lots of dialogue between the two men who have potential to become a couple, if it weren’t for the other two men hovering over their heads. Stuarts dead lover and Paul's ‘is he or isn’t he’ boyfriend.
Dinner becomes dessert and the two share a pretty passionate night together reawakening feelings both thought long gone. Stuart finally begins to feel comfortable opening his heart to another man since Mark’s death. Only to have the rug snatched out from under him when Ben reaches out to Paul.
Stuart Collins loves his job in forensics, even if some of the cases hit him a little hard, like when children are involved. He’s pretty much wrapped in his work and drops everything, literally, if they call him in. Since the death of his partner a year ago, he hasn’t even tried to date again. But he is starting to feel the bite of lonliness, hell, even his father is dating again!
Paul Franklin is missing his boyfriend Ben, who has moved back home to attend to his mom. Ben has seemingly cut off all contact with Paul, not responded to texts or emails, not picking up when Paul calls or returning messages. But Paul has other things on his mind now, like getting to know the man his mom is dating. So he sets up a meeting with the man’s son, Stuart.
Over beers at a local pub, Stuart and Paul share stories about their childhood and their love lives and they learn each of them is gay. But Paul has a temper and soon it sends Stuart speeding away without so much as a goodbye. A second chance is given and the two meet for dinner, and this is where the majority of the book takes place. Lots of dialogue between the two men who have potential to become a couple, if it weren’t for the other two men hovering over their heads. Stuarts dead lover and Paul's ‘is he or isn’t he’ boyfriend.
Dinner becomes dessert and the two share a pretty passionate night together reawakening feelings both thought long gone. Stuart finally begins to feel comfortable opening his heart to another man since Mark’s death. Only to have the rug snatched out from under him when Ben reaches out to Paul.
Overall this was a fast, emotional read with a lot of dialogue that is definitely character driven. There is never a moment where there is any full on sex, but the passion and emotion is there in the acts that are conveyed to the reader.
A must read for those that want to spend all their time with the characters, wrapped up in their conversations and emotions.
As Charlie Cochrane couldn't be trusted to do any of her jobs of choice—like managing a rugby team—she writes, with titles published by Carina, Samhain, Bold Strokes, MLR and Cheyenne.
Charlie's Cambridge Fellows Series of Edwardian romantic mysteries was instrumental in her being named Author of the Year 2009 by the review site Speak Its Name. She’s a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Mystery People, International Thriller Writers Inc and is on the organising team for UK Meet for readers/writers of GLBT fiction. She regularly appears with The Deadly Dames.
Connect with Charlie:
- Website:charliecochrane.co.uk/
- Blog: charliecochrane.livejournal.com/
- Twitter: @charliecochrane
- Facebook profile page: facebook.com/charlie.cochrane.18
- Goodreads: goodreads.com/goodreadscomcharlie_cochrane
Excerpt from Second Helpings..
Bright sunlight on an early July Saturday afternoon, filtering through the leaves of a flowering cherry tree—how could it fail to lift your spirits? Stuart, his desk angled to make the most of the sunshine, basked in the warmth.
Thank God for all such small joys.
Sitting at his desk, looking out the study window, gave him a prime view of the plum tree at the bottom of the garden. An early bloomer, it was usually a mass of small ripe fruits by now, especially if April was sunny and the blossoms were favoured with mild weather and a mass of bees. April had played her part, but the months since had been a disappointment—the fruit hung there, still unripe.
Life had been like that this year, too. Mark had still been here last April, smiling sweetly and full of plans for the summer and beyond. Plans that had dropped from the branch before the green had seen the first blush of purple, early promise never realised, like the aftermath of a harsh, unseasonal wind. Could it be nearly a year since he’d gone?
“I’ve done, Mr. Stuart!” Mrs. Jones’s voice came from the kitchen, followed swiftly by footsteps stomping up the stairs and her greying head appearing around the study door. “Anything else you want before I go?”
“No, that’s fine, thank you.”
“I thought I’d put some cakes on to bake while I was cleaning. I felt I had to earn my money somehow.” She smiled, face a picture of concern—the usual concern he’d generated amongst female friends and relations this last year. Was he eating enough? Was he letting himself pine away? He’d been almost overwhelmed by kindness, to the point of feeling as trapped by it as he was by his grief.
“That’s kind of you, but you didn’t need to. You spoil me.” He forced out the reply and a smile.
“You need a bit of spoiling.” She dithered at the door as though about to say something, then just smiled and backed out.
He waited until the front door had finally closed before going to the kitchen. When he was young, Saturday morning had always been baking day—cakes and bread and sweet biscuits—and the smell of the little fairy cakes brought those days back vividly. Funny how smells seemed to evoke the most powerful memories.
{to read all of chapter one, please visit Riptide Publishing/Second Helpings}
Second Helpings {releasing July 21 2014}
Lessons for Survivors {releasing January 2015}
The Best Corpse for the Job (releasing Novemember 2014}
A note from the Author...
I'm thrilled skinny to be dropping in here as part of
the Second Helpings blog tour. A million thanks to TTC Books and more for
having me as a guest.
***
About Second Helpings
Stuart Collins’s life might as well have ended a year
ago when his partner died in a car crash. Even Stuart’s widowed father has
found new love with an old friend, Isabel Franklin, so why can’t Stuart be
bothered to try?
Then he gets a phone call from Isabel’s son, Paul, who
wants to check out whether or not Mr. Collins is good enough for his mother.
During dinner together, though, they end up checking out each other. Trouble
is, Paul’s got a boyfriend—or maybe he doesn’t, since the boyfriend’s
supposedly giving Paul the push by ignoring him. Or maybe Paul just wants to
have his cake and eat it too.
Honesty with each other is the only way to move
forward. But maybe honesty with themselves is what they really need.
***
As Charlie Cochrane
couldn’t be trusted to do any of her jobs of choice—like managing a rugby
team—she writes. Her favourite genre is gay fiction, predominantly historical
romances/mysteries.
Charlie’s
Cambridge Fellows Series, set in Edwardian England, was instrumental in her
being named Author of the Year 2009 by the review site Speak Its Name. She’s a
member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Mystery People, and
International Thriller Writers Inc., with titles published by Carina, Samhain,
Bold Strokes Books, MLR, and Riptide.
There’s two ways to win today! Comment below for a chance to win an ebook from my backlist (excluding Second Helpings), and a mix of summer seaside goodies! AND you can also enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below.
Entries close at midnight, Eastern Time, on July 29th, and winners will
be announced on July 30th. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries.
This sounds like a combination of heartbreaking backstory and fun/funny step-brothers in love! Charlie's stories always make me laugh, and sometimes make me cry! Thank you for the great review Tammy, and to Charlie for the chance to win! :D
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