Tricky

by Clancy Nacht

If you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life. At least that's what Brody tells himself. But even though he thinks he's happy, he's never forgotten John, his first love. Fate gives the two lovers a second chance; will either one of them be man enough to take it?

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary

Nook

First published March 1, 2010

About the author

Clancy Nacht is a bisexual genderqueer person who lives in Austin with a husband, and three feral rescue cats. Clancy has published several ARe bestselling contemporary romantic thriller m/m and m/f stories. Three of her books have been honored with Rainbow Awards; Le Jazz Hot won for #1 Best Bisexual/Transgender Romance & Erotic Romance. In 2013, Black Gold: Double Black was a runner up for a Rainbow Award and in 2015, Gemini won an Honorable Mention for Gay Erotic Romance at the Rainbow Awards. Her books have been nominated for several Goodreads M/M Readers Choice Awards.

Reviews

[Elisa Rolle]

Tricky is a classical example of hustler story: even if Brody, the young man whose voice is narrating us his story in first point of view, is trying to convince the reader that he is happy being a whore, since, as he said, and as his grandfather told him, “If you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life”, it’s clear that he is not happy. Brody was desperately in love with his best friend John, but they were young and John was scared, he was the son of a pastor and he was taught that their love was a sin. John had not the strength to escape his father’s clutches and he married and build the 2.5 sons family everyone expected from him. And Brody instead continues in the path his grandfather and his father taught him, to screw the world to not being screwed, and what way better doing it if not being a whore? Brody is an high paid whore, he doesn’t work on the street, but in posh hotel all around the world; he is independent and he doesn’t really need to work to live, he has almost taken his job as a vocation: he is giving reliefs to all those “Johns” (no pun intended, or maybe just a little), men like his own John, who had no the courage to live the life they desired, and now, years later, are regretting that lack of courage and are searching in Brody their lost chance.

But then John comes back in Brody’s life, pretending to be the offended one, accusing Brody to not have done enough for them, for not believing enough in their dreams. It’s an angry John, someone who uses sex as a punishment, and again Brody is a willing vessel for that anger: he takes blow after blow; he let John extinguish his anger, to then, in the end, being the one who will store the last shot.

This is a short novella with a lot of hidden and hard feelings, it’s not a sweet story; both Brody than John are hurt men, and they react in different way to that hurt, but with the same intensity. Brody is almost unpleasant, for sure cynical, but you can understand his desperate need of love. And John is nonetheless complicated, for sure he is not a white in shining armour, and probably he is not a courageous man, but more one that takes advantage of what life gifts him, even an apparently tragedy.

I’m not sure of the feelings I have at the end of this story, but for sure it’s a story that leaves you something, and that is already a great achievement.

http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/10...

[Thursday Euclid · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a typical romance with a happily ever after, but it's a gritty, compelling story about unique characters. The ending is hopeful and realistic, so those who are afraid of sad endings need not fear, but it's probably one of the most plausible conclusions to a story of this ilk that I've ever read. I know there are those readers who are in it for the happy fun schmaltzy escapism, and I do not recommend this to them. However, if prefer your erotica to smolder with intense, overwhelming emotions that drive intelligent, complex men to their very limits, then this is for you. Just don't go into this expecting a Hooker With a Heart of Gold meets his Prince Charming story.

[Serena Yates · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not really a fun read. The story deals with two lovers who have been separated. One was "forced" by his religious father to marry and have children, the other decided to become a prostitute. When they meet up years later, neither of them really knows how to try and recapture what they have lost. The back and forth while they are trying to decide what they each want was realistic, but didn't add to the story (purely my personal opinion).

[A.B. Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this story and have no hesitation in rating it this highly. The "voice" of the character is so strong and the writing likewise.

It's only short, but it packs a mean punch. I won't reveal the plot because there are a couple of twists. Instead, I'll let the main character speak for himself. (We don't even discover his name for ages, but that's fine.)

If I'm going to do this, I'm going to do it right; so I'll start by talking straight to you, and quickly disabuse you of any notions that this is some sort of hooker-with-a-heart-of-gold story. Right now, me and you, we’ll sit down, and we'll talk about where this comes from; so if you want to get out of it you'll know, before you've gotten this to the check-out counter.....

...that's how it was until he came back.
You know him . . . the guy you once loved. The only one who could blow into your life like a hurricane and take everything down in its path. In fisherman's parlance, the one that got away.
Just when I was at a point in my life where I felt good about myself and my choices, John came back and birds started singing.

Oh, the little things we do to each other, particularly the ones we love. All of the ones we really feel something for, and in doing so, we blow our future away. Blow it away by being stubborn. By being too clever. By saying regrettable things at the critical moment.....

Every word, every phrase is needed. None are wasted. We go on a journey with two characters who are real, have flaws and strengths. Thanks to Clancy's talent, this journey is very enjoyable. A real page turner.

[Jaele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fabulously written short story, but may not be for everyone. This is dark, and a bit dangerous. The emotion and sentiment behind the actions are real and raw.

The lead, Brody, is a prostitute who enjoys his life and isn’t the least bit ashamed. I find that to be a refreshing concept. He is totally thrown through a loop when John suddenly reappears in his life. His inner dialogue is slightly repetitive in part, but is believable to someone actually going through it so the repetition in this case doesn’t bother me.

The main flaw to Brody is that he enjoys taunting people. He is honest about that fact within the first few pages of the story. For the most part, Brody has been able to move on from the events causing the original break-up of he and John, but that was only because he didn’t have John in his life as a reminder. Now that he is back, Brody’s words to John are much more stark and caustic. We see from Brody’s inner dialogue that he is just so scared of history repeating itself.

John’s major flaw is his mindset. He’s off his rocker. His life has taken a drastic turn and he is pinning everything that he is on Brody accepting him back in his life. He has an air of desperation about him. His attitude is understandable, especially as his story unfolds, but can be a little unsettling at times.

Overall, I liked the mess. Tricky is the perfect name for this story in so many ways.