Jimmy and Mark make an adorable couple. Jimmy’s kindness and clean-cut cuteness radiate out of him like light. Mark, although a bit older, complements Jimmy with his humor and his openness to love.
See, when Mark believes he’s meeting Jimmy for the first time in the diner where he works, he’s wrong.
Mark has no recollection of their original encounter because the wholesome Jimmy of today couldn’t be more different than he was two years ago. Back then, Jimmy sported multiple piercings, long bleached dreadlocks, and facial hair. He was painfully skinny—and a meth addict. The drug transformed him into a different person—a lying, conniving thief who robbed Mark blind during their one-night stand.
Mark doesn’t associate the memory of a hookup gone horribly wrong with this fresh-faced, smiling twentysomething… but Jimmy knows. As they begin a dance of love and attraction, will Jimmy be brave enough to reveal the truth? And if he does, will Mark be able to forgive him? Can he see Jimmy for the man he is now and not the addict he was? The answers will depend on whether true love holds enough light to shine through the darkness of past mistakes.
Buy links: Dreamspinner | Amazon
Cat gives this one 4 Meows...
The Perils of Intimacy is a very deep story. It is about a young man that is a recovering addict and cleaning himself up. He has been clean for two years, works in a restaurant and attends NA meetings. One morning a man comes into the restaurant that he wants to get to know then he realizes where he has seen him before. It is from his dark past, and he did tings he wishes he hadn't. But you cant take back the past. Will that ruin his future?
The story is written in first person alternating views which is one of my favorite types of viewpoints.The story is very easy to follow and a real page turner. I loved both Marc and Jimmy, and we get both views clearly. There are other interesting characters as well. The storyline is sad at times and very poignant. The very last chapter in Miriam's view sent shivers down my spine.
My only issue with this story is at the end it just suddenly stops. I was left with questions about another character and what happens with Marc and Jimmy. But it's a beautiful ending. If you love deep, dark stories, some angst, and romance you will like this one.
Excerpt...
MUCH LATER in the day, after my shift, I head over a few blocks to a Methodist church and enter through a side door. It’s a place I’ve become very familiar with over the past couple of years. Down a short flight of stairs, I’m in a big room with linoleum floors that are scuffed and never clean. Overhead fluorescents buzz and give the people gathered in the room a sickly yellow hue. There’s a big picture of Jesus on the wall opposite. He’s pulled his robe open to expose his heart, and I wonder, as I always do, if that hurts. Near the painting is a bulletin board filled with announcements about things like rummage sales, bingo, and people looking to unload unwanted cars, furniture, and roommates. There’s a minikitchen along one wall, but we never use it.
I join a group of men and women, ten or so in all, seated in a circle on folding chairs. There’s bad coffee and a box of doughnuts someone brought from Fred Meyer, standing open near the kitchen.
“Who wants to start?” Patrick, our de facto leader, looks around and asks. Patrick has always reminded me of the older African American Dr. Webber on Grey’s Anatomy.
I speak up, because I’m anxious and need to do something, else I’ll jump right out of my skin.
“Hi, everyone. I’m Jimmy, and I’m an addict.”
Rick R. Reed is all about exploring the romantic entanglements of gay men in contemporary, realistic settings. While his stories often contain elements of suspense, mystery and the paranormal, his focus ultimately returns to the power of love. He is the author of dozens of published novels, novellas, and short stories. He is a three-time EPIC eBook Award winner (for Caregiver, Orientation and The Blue Moon Cafe). His novel, Raining Men, won the Rainbow Award for Best Contemporary General Fiction. Lambda Literary Review has called him, "a writer that doesn't disappoint." Rick lives in Seattle with his husband and a very spoiled Boston terrier. He is forever "at work on another novel."
Visit him on the web at http://www.rickrreed.com or at http://rickrreedreality.blogspot.com/
Be sure to leave a comment to be entered into the TTC Books and more monthly comment giveaway. EVERY comment that is relevant to the specific post will be entered. Prizes include various gift cards and swag donated by Publishers, Authors and blog Owner. REMEMBER TO LEAVE YOUR CONTACT INFO! How else will I notify you if you win?
Another one for my list. I would love to read this one.
ReplyDeletedebby236 at gmail dot com
Interesing premise. I haven't read this author yet but this seems like a good start.
ReplyDeleteserena91291@gmail.com
Thanks for the review & excerpt, I've had my eye on this one.
ReplyDeletelegacylandlisa(at)gmail(dot)com
Rick has some pretty awesome books out and it looks like this will be another. One more to add to the ever growing pile. pringlez22(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteYeah, thanks for both the review and the excerpt. I like the premise, and I'd interested to see how that plays out. But the excerpt drew me in even more - hit close to home. - Purple Reader,
ReplyDeleteTheWrote [at] aol [dot] com