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Chaser and Raining Men #1
Cacciatore
Qualcuno definirebbe Caden DeSarro un cacciatore di uomini grassi. Gli piacciono i ragazzi con qualche chilo di troppo. Quando incontra Kevin Dodge nei bagni di un locale, non riesce a togliergli gli occhi di dosso, anche se non fa una bella figura. Secondo Caden, Kevin è fisicamente un biondone barbuto con l’attrezzatura perfetta (si sono incontrati in bagno, non poteva non sbirciare!). Caden però si blocca e perde la sua occasione.
Quando s’imbatte di nuovo in Kevin quella notte, sul treno verso casa, pensa che il destino gli abbia offerto una seconda possibilità. Fa in modo di farsi invitare a casa di Kevin per un’avventura di una notte che si trasforma, invece, nel tipo di relazione che Caden ha sempre sognato.
Ma il vero amore non trova mai il suo compimento senza ostacoli e l’idillio di Kevin e Caden non fa eccezione. Quando Caden ritorna da un viaggio di qualche settimana, Kevin lo sorprende con un fisico nuovo e ‘migliorato’, che si addice benissimo agli ideali di Bobby, l’amico vanesio di Caden, ma non a quelli di Caden. Lui non sa più cosa fare e la sua esitazione è l’occasione che Bobby stava cercando. Perché quello non è più lo stesso Kevin di cui si è innamorato…, vero?
Quando s’imbatte di nuovo in Kevin quella notte, sul treno verso casa, pensa che il destino gli abbia offerto una seconda possibilità. Fa in modo di farsi invitare a casa di Kevin per un’avventura di una notte che si trasforma, invece, nel tipo di relazione che Caden ha sempre sognato.
Ma il vero amore non trova mai il suo compimento senza ostacoli e l’idillio di Kevin e Caden non fa eccezione. Quando Caden ritorna da un viaggio di qualche settimana, Kevin lo sorprende con un fisico nuovo e ‘migliorato’, che si addice benissimo agli ideali di Bobby, l’amico vanesio di Caden, ma non a quelli di Caden. Lui non sa più cosa fare e la sua esitazione è l’occasione che Bobby stava cercando. Perché quello non è più lo stesso Kevin di cui si è innamorato…, vero?
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 23, 2012
18 people are currently reading
583 people want to read
About the author
Rick R. Reed
118 books1,046 followersReal Men. True Love.
Rick R. Reed is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than sixty works of published fiction, spanning genres such as horror, psychological suspense and love stories. He is a Lambda Literary Award finalist and a multiple Rainbow Award winner.
Entertainment Weekly has described his work as “heartrending and sensitive.” Lambda Literary has called him: “A writer that doesn’t disappoint…”
Find him at www.rickrreedreality.blogspot.com. Rick lives in Palm Springs, CA, with his two rescue dogs, Kodi and Joaquin.
Rick R. Reed is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than sixty works of published fiction, spanning genres such as horror, psychological suspense and love stories. He is a Lambda Literary Award finalist and a multiple Rainbow Award winner.
Entertainment Weekly has described his work as “heartrending and sensitive.” Lambda Literary has called him: “A writer that doesn’t disappoint…”
Find him at www.rickrreedreality.blogspot.com. Rick lives in Palm Springs, CA, with his two rescue dogs, Kodi and Joaquin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
May 29, 2013
I am barely giving this book 3 stars. I am pretty mad about the second half of the book but I am restraining myself.
I loved the concept of "Chaser". I actually was curious about guys that seek out meatier men, as most M/M books are about twinks or muscle studs. Kevin was an adorable character and I could have read about him endlessly. I wasn't crazy about Caden. He was too concerned with what other people thought. I wanted to shake him for most of the book. However, for the first part of the story I was happy and entertained. The second half of the story is another matter...
Why the drama!? I'm all for angsty reads if the situation calls for it, but here it was just miscommunication after miscommunication. This type of tension is my LEAST favorite kind of drama. It was very frustrating to read.
And who DOESN'T want to bitch-slap Bobby! I loathe that crazy man. I don't know if he can redeem himself in Raining Men. He is too far gone for me right now. He is like movie villain evil.
I'll read more by this author because I know many people that recommend him, but I was less than impressed by this one.
I loved the concept of "Chaser". I actually was curious about guys that seek out meatier men, as most M/M books are about twinks or muscle studs. Kevin was an adorable character and I could have read about him endlessly. I wasn't crazy about Caden. He was too concerned with what other people thought. I wanted to shake him for most of the book. However, for the first part of the story I was happy and entertained. The second half of the story is another matter...
Why the drama!? I'm all for angsty reads if the situation calls for it, but here it was just miscommunication after miscommunication. This type of tension is my LEAST favorite kind of drama. It was very frustrating to read.
And who DOESN'T want to bitch-slap Bobby! I loathe that crazy man. I don't know if he can redeem himself in Raining Men. He is too far gone for me right now. He is like movie villain evil.
I'll read more by this author because I know many people that recommend him, but I was less than impressed by this one.
August 31, 2012
Oh - this book was almost really good for me but the ending had me turning pages wondering if my eBook got cut off somehow. Caden is a man who has let his best friend Bobby influence his hook-ups over the years. While Caden prefers men with a little more meat, he lets himself be steered toward the more ripped and gorgeous men that Bobby prefers and has yet to meet anyone long-term. Caden finally meets Kevin who is perfect for him in every way. Perfect heftier physique but with a nurturing and kind personality. They hit it off immediately and form a pretty close connection. Unfortunately, circumstances take Caden out of town for 6 weeks and Kevin uses that time to trim down, eat healthy, and start working out. When Caden comes back to a buff and fit Kevin, he is thrown and finds himself not as attracted to the man he was growing to love. I loved Kevin and I obviously had some issues with Caden being hung up on looks in the reverse way that his friend Bobby was but I had faith that Caden would realize that it's what's inside that counts. I was really enjoying the book, even enjoying the evil genius that was Bobby, but then the book just sort of ends. I turned the page and saw the author's bio and was thinking huh? WTF? I literally flipped the page back, then forward, then back again in disbelief. This book would probably have been a 4 or 5 star book with a simple epilogue. Not just an epilogue, I even felt that the last chapter ended too abruptly - almost in the middle of a thought? And what about Bobby? Certainly that can't be all? I was kind of bummed because up until the ending I was really into the book.
November 25, 2012
This book … it's a pity, really, but I can't give it more than two stars.
I love the idea behind the story. I don't think I've ever come across a M/M romance novel exploring this topic, and it was certainly a refreshing read at parts. Had the book had a different ending, my rating would've been higher, but the way the author tried to push the Caden/Kevin romance at all costs was just too much for me.
The beginning was promising and enjoyable. I could feel the lust between Caden and Kevin and think the author did a really good job describing the night/morning they spent together. Both men were obviously smitten with each other, and I saw myself looking forward to reading about the development of their relationship.
Enter terrible plot choice #1: Conveniently, Caden has to leave town for a full six weeks before his relationship with Kevin can go further than a first real date. We don't see much of him during those six weeks, we're only told that Caden and Kevin keep in close contact during Caden's absence. Apparently, they learn a lot about each other and fall in love. Huh. This the reader is told.
What does Kevin do while Caden is away staying with his family? He becomes insecure about his body and decides, from one day to the other, to lose weight. He starts dieting and exercising and manages to lose 40 pounds. In six weeks, mind you. Wow.
The reader's told that Kevin (although he apparently keeps in close contact with Caden and talks to him about everything) doesn't mention any of that to Caden. He wants to surprise~ him.
Caden isn't all that happy with Kevin's new appearance once he returns from his stay with his family. What Caden was attracted to was Kevin's body before he decided to shed 40 pounds. He liked Kevin with "some meat on his bones". I thought it was believable that Caden didn't feel the pull to Kevin he felt before. There's even a scene where Kevin obviously wants to have sex with Caden but Caden rejects him.
So, where does that leave us? Caden is no longer attracted to Kevin but somehow still a little in love with him (although we never saw him falling in love with Kevin to begin with).
Enter terrible plot choice #2: Caden's best friend (um?), Bobby, decides to steal the "new" Kevin from Caden. What follows is about a hundred pages of intrigues, and deceiving, and Bobby trying to seduce Kevin. Caden gets wind of this and tells Kevin that he never ever wants to see him again. By the way, I feel a little sorry for poor, poor Caden if he really thinks that Bobby's someone he should call his "BFF".
But since the author wants Kevin to end up with Caden (I really don't know why), he lets Caden have an epiphany. Caden realizes that he still loves Kevin cause it was "Kevin's spirit" he fell in love with (I don't know why or when that happened). So, um, that's it. Kevin and Caden go back to Caden's and, I assume, live HEA.
Caden and Kevin's romance was just so forced and something I didn't believe for a second. I think the story would've worked better if Caden and Kevin had already been a couple when Kevin decided he wanted to lose weight. Maybe then I'd have believed that Caden loved Kevin for who he was and not for what he looked liked. But since we never once see Caden and Kevin fall in love (we only see Caden falling out of lust), the story didn't work for me.
Lastly, I was a little bugged by the constant POV switching. We get three POVs throughout the entire book: Caden's, Kevin's, and Bobby's, and IMO, at least Bobby's was superfluous. It also doesn't really work because sometimes their names are switched, and I had to read some paragraphs again to understand who the author's talking about.
Also, there's sometimes more than half a page of the protagonists' inner voices. Those parts are written in italics and quickly became too much for me and annoyed me. It's clear that it's the author's voice instead of Caden's or Kevin's that's talking here. An example: See, people are precious. In the end, they’re all we have. And our connections to them are so fragile—they’re like the most tender plant shoots, needing nurturing, and without it, they can wither away to nothing. Almost as cheesy as their inner voices was the dialogue.
I had the biggest problem, however, with the constant telling instead of showing.
I love the idea behind the story. I don't think I've ever come across a M/M romance novel exploring this topic, and it was certainly a refreshing read at parts. Had the book had a different ending, my rating would've been higher, but the way the author tried to push the Caden/Kevin romance at all costs was just too much for me.
The beginning was promising and enjoyable. I could feel the lust between Caden and Kevin and think the author did a really good job describing the night/morning they spent together. Both men were obviously smitten with each other, and I saw myself looking forward to reading about the development of their relationship.
Enter terrible plot choice #1: Conveniently, Caden has to leave town for a full six weeks before his relationship with Kevin can go further than a first real date. We don't see much of him during those six weeks, we're only told that Caden and Kevin keep in close contact during Caden's absence. Apparently, they learn a lot about each other and fall in love. Huh. This the reader is told.
What does Kevin do while Caden is away staying with his family? He becomes insecure about his body and decides, from one day to the other, to lose weight. He starts dieting and exercising and manages to lose 40 pounds. In six weeks, mind you. Wow.
The reader's told that Kevin (although he apparently keeps in close contact with Caden and talks to him about everything) doesn't mention any of that to Caden. He wants to surprise~ him.
Caden isn't all that happy with Kevin's new appearance once he returns from his stay with his family. What Caden was attracted to was Kevin's body before he decided to shed 40 pounds. He liked Kevin with "some meat on his bones". I thought it was believable that Caden didn't feel the pull to Kevin he felt before. There's even a scene where Kevin obviously wants to have sex with Caden but Caden rejects him.
So, where does that leave us? Caden is no longer attracted to Kevin but somehow still a little in love with him (although we never saw him falling in love with Kevin to begin with).
Enter terrible plot choice #2: Caden's best friend (um?), Bobby, decides to steal the "new" Kevin from Caden. What follows is about a hundred pages of intrigues, and deceiving, and Bobby trying to seduce Kevin. Caden gets wind of this and tells Kevin that he never ever wants to see him again. By the way, I feel a little sorry for poor, poor Caden if he really thinks that Bobby's someone he should call his "BFF".
But since the author wants Kevin to end up with Caden (I really don't know why), he lets Caden have an epiphany. Caden realizes that he still loves Kevin cause it was "Kevin's spirit" he fell in love with (I don't know why or when that happened). So, um, that's it. Kevin and Caden go back to Caden's and, I assume, live HEA.
Caden and Kevin's romance was just so forced and something I didn't believe for a second. I think the story would've worked better if Caden and Kevin had already been a couple when Kevin decided he wanted to lose weight. Maybe then I'd have believed that Caden loved Kevin for who he was and not for what he looked liked. But since we never once see Caden and Kevin fall in love (we only see Caden falling out of lust), the story didn't work for me.
Lastly, I was a little bugged by the constant POV switching. We get three POVs throughout the entire book: Caden's, Kevin's, and Bobby's, and IMO, at least Bobby's was superfluous. It also doesn't really work because sometimes their names are switched, and I had to read some paragraphs again to understand who the author's talking about.
Also, there's sometimes more than half a page of the protagonists' inner voices. Those parts are written in italics and quickly became too much for me and annoyed me. It's clear that it's the author's voice instead of Caden's or Kevin's that's talking here. An example: See, people are precious. In the end, they’re all we have. And our connections to them are so fragile—they’re like the most tender plant shoots, needing nurturing, and without it, they can wither away to nothing. Almost as cheesy as their inner voices was the dialogue.
I had the biggest problem, however, with the constant telling instead of showing.
August 29, 2012
Ok, my friends here have different takes on this story and I can see where they are coming from, Caden does appear shallow and at least where Bobby is concerned not too bright.
But, as this book shows us, appearences aren't everything. ;)
Now it might sound as if I didn't like it, but that would be wrong, I actually liked the story quite a bit and read it in one sitting.
I'm glad I read it and I wish it had a bit longer ending, after all they went through,they and I deserved a little more, there is a Happy Ending though, so no worries!
But, as this book shows us, appearences aren't everything. ;)
Now it might sound as if I didn't like it, but that would be wrong, I actually liked the story quite a bit and read it in one sitting.
I'm glad I read it and I wish it had a bit longer ending, after all they went through,they and I deserved a little more, there is a Happy Ending though, so no worries!
May 15, 2015
I've loved everything I've read by Rick R. Reed, and CHASER is no exception. It's a great story of mixed signals and confused longings and also a testament to the importance of having friends you can trust, because frankly Caden DeSarro's best buddy, Bobby, is the meanest little shit ever born and should be taken outside and shot. Wow, what a jerk. Kevin Dodge, on the other hand, is just shy of perfect. I fell in love with him on the first page he was introduced into the story. This is a great little book. More serious, than I expected. Well-written, as Reed's work always is. And a lovely way to spend a rainy afternoon waiting for the damn plumber to finish putting in my new toilet. Too much information? Anyway, pick up CHASER. I'm sure you'll love it as much as I did.
August 29, 2012
I have mixed feelings about rating and writing a review of this book. My rating is really for the first half of the story. It is hard to really write anything without giving away spoilers. I really liked both the MCs, however really wanted to just slap Caden upside the head several times because he was just being stupid and superficial when he returned and saw Kevin. The first half of the book was good and I really liked the direction the story was taking. I will have to say that about halfway, I really couldn't put it down because I had to see where the author was going with this story. I really couldn't believe the path the story was taking with Bobby. Did I like Bobby, not at all. He could have been hit by the El and I would have been quite happy. He was not even a character that you love to hate. When the deception and lies started with Bobby, I really just wanted to stop reading the story, at that point it became a completely different story and no longer enjoyable, how could a friend do that?. I know that was the point of the story, but it was just such a change from the beginning. Then the story really just ends. WTH. After all the miscommunications, everything that happened, all is forgiven between Kevin and Caden and nothing happens to Bobby? I felt very cheated and disappointed that I went through this whole ordeal with these three and then that's it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2012
This one worked for me.
The first half was kinda slow, but necessary to set the scene so to speak. I loved the second half, but then I tend to like books that make me mad at certain characters, and this one had a character I was fuming at.
Caden was a great guy, except when he was being a bit of an ass.
Kevin was pretty much perfect, both before and after.
Bobby was and is a slime ball. There were a few times I thought we were going to see him in a better light, but unfortunately in this book he was left unredeemable.
There were a few minor niggles that stop this from being a full 4 star read though. Mainly the abrupt ending. Personally I could of done without some of the more unnecessary details we were treated to in the beginning, and just a little more detail on the ending. I don’t do well with endings that leave me feeling I’m missing something.
Overall a 3.5.
The first half was kinda slow, but necessary to set the scene so to speak. I loved the second half, but then I tend to like books that make me mad at certain characters, and this one had a character I was fuming at.
Caden was a great guy, except when he was being a bit of an ass.
Kevin was pretty much perfect, both before and after.
Bobby was and is a slime ball. There were a few times I thought we were going to see him in a better light, but unfortunately in this book he was left unredeemable.
There were a few minor niggles that stop this from being a full 4 star read though. Mainly the abrupt ending. Personally I could of done without some of the more unnecessary details we were treated to in the beginning, and just a little more detail on the ending. I don’t do well with endings that leave me feeling I’m missing something.
Overall a 3.5.
May 23, 2013
Without being overtly hilarious, Chaser is an easy read that takes the topic of beauty dictates and spices it up with a twist of irony.
Caden is a handsome, athletic guy with an unavowed bear kink. He cruises bars with his best friend gorgeous-Bobby to find a pick up for the night, secretly hoping for the one. That’s where he meets Kevin and Gods! The man is perfect : blond hair, not-so-trimmed beard and a delicious beer gut. A few events later, they meet again. Lust. Pick up. Night of passion. Morning afterglow. Numbers exchange. Possibilities.
Caden must leave for a few weeks and Kevin, who is completely unaware that he is a bear wet dream, takes upon himself to lose weight and gain muscles. When Caden comes back : horror. No lust. No passion. Angst. Misunderstandings.
More than a cliché about interior beauty Chaser is a reflection of the seduction game, a light reflexion about sexual attraction and what is left of it the morning after, whether it is awkwardness or a glimpse of who a person is and an opening toward a relationship. And vice versa.
The strokes are a little thick, you might think sometimes that it’s a bit of a tail story but when Bobby joins the party, the situations take on an air of Vaudeville that I find amusing, even if the characters’ feelings of hurt and dismay stay genuine.
Kevin is the smart, sensible and decent guy of the equation, Caden is a nice fool and Bobby is a conniving, vain, lonely jerk. In my opinion, he is the second twist of irony in this story.
In short, thoughtful and entertaining.
Warning : this book contains scenes of torture by running, with descriptions of lungs burning, heart hammering and limbs suffering that might upset unathletic sensitive souls. ;)
September 2, 2012
Great story! I loved it with a few exceptions. It had a great flow I loved the way it was written and I didn’t want to put it down which is a good indication I really like it.
I loved Caden and Kevin, definitely felt the chemistry there and Bobby as much as some people didn’t like him I didn’t feel that way. Yes he was a jerk at times but there was something about him that had my heart go out to him, I will admit what he does at the end had me wanting to cuff him in the back of the head, that was just mean. I loved that this story could have happened in real life for the most part everyone seemed real. I didn’t like that Kevin had to change into that fantasy guy, I wanted him to stay that sweet, lovely “beefy” man but like real life we can’t have everything we want. *lol*
I wish there had of been more between Caden and Kevin before Caden had to leave and I would have like to read more of their interaction while he was away, I felt like there was a big part missing there. The ending disappointed me, it has my all important HEA but it ended too abruptly for my liking.
This was a great read and I recommend it.
I loved Caden and Kevin, definitely felt the chemistry there and Bobby as much as some people didn’t like him I didn’t feel that way. Yes he was a jerk at times but there was something about him that had my heart go out to him, I will admit what he does at the end had me wanting to cuff him in the back of the head, that was just mean. I loved that this story could have happened in real life for the most part everyone seemed real. I didn’t like that Kevin had to change into that fantasy guy, I wanted him to stay that sweet, lovely “beefy” man but like real life we can’t have everything we want. *lol*
I wish there had of been more between Caden and Kevin before Caden had to leave and I would have like to read more of their interaction while he was away, I felt like there was a big part missing there. The ending disappointed me, it has my all important HEA but it ended too abruptly for my liking.
This was a great read and I recommend it.
August 26, 2012
Yes, this was a very good read, couldn't really put it down. I don't want to give away spoilers - only this: for me the conflict was unbalanced. The build-up was very good, kept me reading and waiting for the solution, but then it was leaving me with a 'so what?' feeling.
May 14, 2022
I love the premise: A man who’s into big, beefy guys found the man of his dream. Only this dream guy isn’t happy with his own stocky body and tries to build an attractive, thinner version of himself. At first I thought it was a rom-com with a body positivity message. But it turns out more than that. I’m just thankful to find an author who does not stop at the conventional confines of romance, but is willing to go the extra mile to explore conflicting themes, in this case, body positivity vs superficial attraction vs true love. The ending solution is not satisfactory, but I still love the fresh air the author gives. He’s definitely an author to keep.
August 25, 2012
Lived up to my expectations! I've been waiting for the release of this book since I read the synopsis earlier this summer.
Caden isn't interested in all of the perfectly gorgeous guys his friend Bobby likes. They just don't do it for him. He prefers his men a little hefty. Not fat, but 'beefier' as he says.
Along comes Kevin, and they have a great start on a relationship when Caden's mother gets sick, and he leaves to stay with her for awhile.
All alone, Kevin decides Caden wouldn't want a fatty like him, and starts to lose weight. Six weeks of calls and texts bring Caden and Kevin closer, and by the time Caden gets back six weeks later, Kevin is SO excited to surprise Caden with his new body! What will Caden think? Will he still want the man he thinks he's falling in love with?
Caden's friend Bobby is thrown into the mix to complicate matters. I wonder if Rick R. Reed will follow up with a book about Bobby?
Caden isn't interested in all of the perfectly gorgeous guys his friend Bobby likes. They just don't do it for him. He prefers his men a little hefty. Not fat, but 'beefier' as he says.
Along comes Kevin, and they have a great start on a relationship when Caden's mother gets sick, and he leaves to stay with her for awhile.
All alone, Kevin decides Caden wouldn't want a fatty like him, and starts to lose weight. Six weeks of calls and texts bring Caden and Kevin closer, and by the time Caden gets back six weeks later, Kevin is SO excited to surprise Caden with his new body! What will Caden think? Will he still want the man he thinks he's falling in love with?
Caden's friend Bobby is thrown into the mix to complicate matters. I wonder if Rick R. Reed will follow up with a book about Bobby?
August 16, 2013
A unique book about learning to love what's on the inside instead of the outside. I have to say that I ended this book not feeling a whole lot of love for two of the characters. For one, the reasons are obvious. The other just angered me early on and I had a hard time finding a way back to liking him even a little bit. Thankfully, the story comes together well and everything works out as it should. I do wish it would have been a few pages longer as I felt the ending was a little too rushed. Otherwise, a really good read.
Full review can be found at On Top Down Under Book Reviews.
This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Full review can be found at On Top Down Under Book Reviews.
This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.
December 8, 2014
Oh I am just going to throw up a 4 and make it stick. I am confused at how I feel about this. I've been wanting to read this forever, but I was too chicken to pick it up. Why? Let me break this down:
I am a big girl. I don't need it rubbed in my face that pretty boys/girls only want pretty boys/girls. I hate shallowness. You see, I wasn't always big. I gained 75-80 pounds because I had 8 friends die within 6 months. I ate my way into my new body. I know what it's like to be thin and I see how people look at me differently (or not look at all, I should say). However, I wasn't a shallow bitch when I was thin. I dated all shapes/sizes/colors :) I was scared that I would hate all characters involved.
With that said, you really have no control over what you are attracted to. I asked my husband once if he left for a couple weeks and came back to me with short hair what would he do? He said something like "it would be really weird" and he gave a little shudder. He really doesn't find short hair on women attractive.
So, I guess I can see where Caden is coming from. I mean, he left Kevin one way and came back to him another.
Let me back up. You see Caden like big boys. Not necessarily fat, but chubby. Football player builds. Big-boned. Thick. Something like that. But, he's kind of ashamed of it, in my opinion. He just doesn't understand why. His best friend, Bobby, is a superficial asshat. I hated him from the minute he came on the page. Caden finds this guy hot guy in the bar, but he embarrasses himself. Circumstances led them together again.
They both like each other. They fit.
But, Caden gets some bad news (after 2 semi-dates) and has to leave. Here's where things get sticky. I really wished they had more time together before this happened.
When Caden comes back Kevin has lost a lot of weight. Caden is scared that he doesn't find Kevin attractive anymore. I got it, even if he was kind of a douche about it.
I hated how this just ended, too. I needed a little more at the end there.
I will be diving into Raining Men but I am not getting my hopes up that Bobby can redeem himself. I hold a grudge like something fierce.
LOVE that this took place in Chicago. My old stomping grounds: Sidetrack, Roscoe's, Hydrate, Kit Kat, Big Chicks, Replay, Cellblock, Circuit, Berlin, Lucky Horseshoe, Little Jim's (only been here once) and more. Oh man. Brings back a lot of memories. I didn't live in Chicago, but about an hour North. I would go to The City though every Thursday-Sunday. How I managed to afford to eat and live in a house is beyond me ;)
I am a big girl. I don't need it rubbed in my face that pretty boys/girls only want pretty boys/girls. I hate shallowness. You see, I wasn't always big. I gained 75-80 pounds because I had 8 friends die within 6 months. I ate my way into my new body. I know what it's like to be thin and I see how people look at me differently (or not look at all, I should say). However, I wasn't a shallow bitch when I was thin. I dated all shapes/sizes/colors :) I was scared that I would hate all characters involved.
With that said, you really have no control over what you are attracted to. I asked my husband once if he left for a couple weeks and came back to me with short hair what would he do? He said something like "it would be really weird" and he gave a little shudder. He really doesn't find short hair on women attractive.
So, I guess I can see where Caden is coming from. I mean, he left Kevin one way and came back to him another.
Let me back up. You see Caden like big boys. Not necessarily fat, but chubby. Football player builds. Big-boned. Thick. Something like that. But, he's kind of ashamed of it, in my opinion. He just doesn't understand why. His best friend, Bobby, is a superficial asshat. I hated him from the minute he came on the page. Caden finds this guy hot guy in the bar, but he embarrasses himself. Circumstances led them together again.
They both like each other. They fit.
But, Caden gets some bad news (after 2 semi-dates) and has to leave. Here's where things get sticky. I really wished they had more time together before this happened.
When Caden comes back Kevin has lost a lot of weight. Caden is scared that he doesn't find Kevin attractive anymore. I got it, even if he was kind of a douche about it.
I hated how this just ended, too. I needed a little more at the end there.
I will be diving into Raining Men but I am not getting my hopes up that Bobby can redeem himself. I hold a grudge like something fierce.
LOVE that this took place in Chicago. My old stomping grounds: Sidetrack, Roscoe's, Hydrate, Kit Kat, Big Chicks, Replay, Cellblock, Circuit, Berlin, Lucky Horseshoe, Little Jim's (only been here once) and more. Oh man. Brings back a lot of memories. I didn't live in Chicago, but about an hour North. I would go to The City though every Thursday-Sunday. How I managed to afford to eat and live in a house is beyond me ;)
May 30, 2013
I think I had a like/hate thing going on with these guys. It was like a train wreck from beginning to end...and I just couldn't turn away from it. Not that I even wanted to turn away, because I was hooked from the very beginning.
Overall, I think Caden and Kevin were actually together for about 15% of the entire story. And I just can't forgive missing out on experiencing their relationship grow during those 6 weeks apart! So that leaves me very conflicted on how to rate this, because I do think it had quite a few flaws. But I prefer to rate on enjoyment, and I really enjoyed the reading experience this put me through; even though I wanted to scream...a lot...and stab Bobby in the face. I'm going with 3.5 stars because that is what my heart is telling me.
As much as I hate Bobby, I'm still looking forward to reading Raining Men to see if its possible for him to be redeemed.
3.5 Stars
Please read my full review at The Blog of Sid Love
Overall, I think Caden and Kevin were actually together for about 15% of the entire story. And I just can't forgive missing out on experiencing their relationship grow during those 6 weeks apart! So that leaves me very conflicted on how to rate this, because I do think it had quite a few flaws. But I prefer to rate on enjoyment, and I really enjoyed the reading experience this put me through; even though I wanted to scream...a lot...and stab Bobby in the face. I'm going with 3.5 stars because that is what my heart is telling me.
As much as I hate Bobby, I'm still looking forward to reading Raining Men to see if its possible for him to be redeemed.
3.5 Stars
Please read my full review at The Blog of Sid Love
September 2, 2012
Started off promising, with the book centring around the issue of attraction and vanity. I was glad that the content was not a string of sex scenes, but instead focused on the story progression.
Unfortunately, the story felt very unresolved, and the ending was very abrupt. I think it's pretty safe to say that every issue was left open, Caden's and Kevin's relationship, Bobby, Caden's mother... To me, both Caden and Bobby failed to grow at all by the end of the book. The feelings between the protagonists were also not very believable, with the two having hardly spent time together, and then there's their personality .
Also, not to forget the poor mother! Caden's mother was so obviously included just to create the separation time. The lady dropped off the story and never mentioned again shortly after Caden's return. Given her illness and her supposedly very close relationship with Caden, it was strange she was not mentioned more.
As for a minor point, the editing. Mostly good, but there were some places such as a missing word, or a mistake with a character's name that tripped up the otherwise smooth reading.
Unfortunately, the story felt very unresolved, and the ending was very abrupt. I think it's pretty safe to say that every issue was left open, Caden's and Kevin's relationship, Bobby, Caden's mother... To me, both Caden and Bobby failed to grow at all by the end of the book. The feelings between the protagonists were also not very believable, with the two having hardly spent time together, and then there's their personality .
Also, not to forget the poor mother! Caden's mother was so obviously included just to create the separation time. The lady dropped off the story and never mentioned again shortly after Caden's return. Given her illness and her supposedly very close relationship with Caden, it was strange she was not mentioned more.
As for a minor point, the editing. Mostly good, but there were some places such as a missing word, or a mistake with a character's name that tripped up the otherwise smooth reading.
September 7, 2012
I will give it 3 stars but it is a loose 3 stars. The book was written well and brought out emotions...even thought they were "pissed off at the characters" emotions. I didn't read reviews of the book and figured it would be a little sweeter than it was. But what it turned out to be was angsty and that is not my favorite thing. It would have been better if Caden and Kevin had more time to be together. The great majority of the book was them being apart and tons of inner monologue. I would have liked to have seen Kevin stay the way that he was instead of feeling like he had to change. Even with him changing his appearance, we never were able to see the dynamics of them working things out together. Bobby was a bastard. The ending left me saying "Is this really the end?". I went through all of that this to happen. Big let down
August 29, 2012
This story grabbed me right from the beginning. It was funny and very cute. Some parts made me smile, some made my heart break. Then we meet the players. Caden is cute, and I loved him with big cuddly Kevin. Bobby is awful in so many ways and is just bad news all around.
There are a lot of things going on here. First is the budding relationship of Caden and Kevin, and with that, the topic of attraction. There is also extreme superficialness, backstabbing and betrayal, with a healthy dose of miscommunication.
Eyes are opened to what attracted people in the first place and how people are not who they think they are, both positively and negatively. There were some parts of this that seemed a little drawn out, and then the ending seemed rather abrupt. I really would have liked to see an epilogue showing how things turned out.
There are a lot of things going on here. First is the budding relationship of Caden and Kevin, and with that, the topic of attraction. There is also extreme superficialness, backstabbing and betrayal, with a healthy dose of miscommunication.
Eyes are opened to what attracted people in the first place and how people are not who they think they are, both positively and negatively. There were some parts of this that seemed a little drawn out, and then the ending seemed rather abrupt. I really would have liked to see an epilogue showing how things turned out.
Read
August 26, 2012Please be good. Please be good...
February 28, 2020
4 Stars for Part 1
1 Star for Part 2
Final Rating : 2.5 Stars!
This book started out so well with Kevin and Caden meeting and giving me the right mix of feels, heat and humour. I gobbled it all up and had a good feeling about the rest of the book. Then Part 2 happened.
Part 2 was not bad writing-wise but plot-wise. The story did well in delving into the whole “chaser” scene with addressing attraction among other things . But then Bobby happened.
By this I do not mean Bobby as a character (though he deserves to rot in the deepest pits of hell) but how much page time and detail was dedicated to his shenanigans.
The whole thing could have been mentioned with the drama concluded in about 10 pages tops but nooooo we had to read page on page on page of our MCs wallowing in hurt and sadness due to this jackass.
And to make matters worse? Our MCs reconciled in the very last percent of the story with no further pages dedicated to the love story sold to us in the Part 1 of the book. Someone suddenly had an epiphany and the other person instead of moving on from being put on hold, also took the other back. Without any proper discussion or grovelling. I needed some grovelling dammit!
This left me dissatisfied and frankly a bit annoyed that after all my effort reading this book I could’ve even get a proper epilogue or heck 3 paragraphs describing how Caden and Kevin were doing after their abrupt reconciliation.
I am not a happy camper at the moment.
•••This book was provided by the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review.•••
1 Star for Part 2
Final Rating : 2.5 Stars!
This book started out so well with Kevin and Caden meeting and giving me the right mix of feels, heat and humour. I gobbled it all up and had a good feeling about the rest of the book. Then Part 2 happened.
Part 2 was not bad writing-wise but plot-wise. The story did well in delving into the whole “chaser” scene with addressing attraction among other things . But then Bobby happened.
By this I do not mean Bobby as a character (though he deserves to rot in the deepest pits of hell) but how much page time and detail was dedicated to his shenanigans.
The whole thing could have been mentioned with the drama concluded in about 10 pages tops but nooooo we had to read page on page on page of our MCs wallowing in hurt and sadness due to this jackass.
And to make matters worse? Our MCs reconciled in the very last percent of the story with no further pages dedicated to the love story sold to us in the Part 1 of the book. Someone suddenly had an epiphany and the other person instead of moving on from being put on hold, also took the other back. Without any proper discussion or grovelling. I needed some grovelling dammit!
This left me dissatisfied and frankly a bit annoyed that after all my effort reading this book I could’ve even get a proper epilogue or heck 3 paragraphs describing how Caden and Kevin were doing after their abrupt reconciliation.
I am not a happy camper at the moment.
•••This book was provided by the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review.•••
August 25, 2012
I absolutely love stories with happy endings and this book did not disappoint. The story is about Caden, a pretty decent guy who just so happens to like his men on the beefy side. Kevin Dodge is a good guy who deals with insecurity issues over his weight. At first he is so shocked that a hot guy like Caden is interested in him that he thinks it's just a passing fling, but the two men quickly discover that they have a deeper connection. Every thing is going perfect for the couple until Caden gets a call from home and has to leave Kevin for a while to help take care of his sick mother who is battling cancer. When Caden returns to his lover, he finds a different man. Kevin is about forty pounds lighter and he's a lot leaner than before Caden left and Caden isn't sure he still feels the same way about him. It takes almost losing Kevin for him to realize that it really is Kevin that he loves and not the body image that he thought he wanted.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2012
Excellent! So totally different and finally a R.R.Reed book that didn't make me cry. But I did laugh, and I was totally shocked and offended. Not offended for me but for Caden. Sometimes we are better off alone then with a friend like that. And offended for Kevin...he just couldn't catch a break and I felt like sometimes, for him, it didn't pay to be a nice guy.
Kevin was beyond adorable and I could relate with him while he was "beefy". I like that word :-))
I could understand him and I liked him. And he just did not deserve the treatment he got from Caden nor Bobby.
My only "beef" was that the ending seemed kind of abrupt. I think I needed another chapter or an epilogue to see how my guys were doing. I wouldn't be opposed to a short, giving us an update...hint, hint, hint.
Kevin was beyond adorable and I could relate with him while he was "beefy". I like that word :-))
I could understand him and I liked him. And he just did not deserve the treatment he got from Caden nor Bobby.
My only "beef" was that the ending seemed kind of abrupt. I think I needed another chapter or an epilogue to see how my guys were doing. I wouldn't be opposed to a short, giving us an update...hint, hint, hint.
August 25, 2012
I read this during one day in basically two sittings.
It made me think, for sure, it made me care about the main characters, but something about it just held me back enough I couldn't give it five stars.
Excellent story nonetheless, one that might make you think as well, which in our genre is a good thing.
Parts of it hit a bit too close to home for me, so maybe that's one of the reasons holding me back from loving it. Who knows. I can still encourage people to read it.
It made me think, for sure, it made me care about the main characters, but something about it just held me back enough I couldn't give it five stars.
Excellent story nonetheless, one that might make you think as well, which in our genre is a good thing.
Parts of it hit a bit too close to home for me, so maybe that's one of the reasons holding me back from loving it. Who knows. I can still encourage people to read it.
September 1, 2012
This book is about real people, coming to terms with their lives. Its very "matter-of-factness" makes the story unique and powerful. It straddles the line between Gay lit and Gay fiction... whatever that is... {smirk} Thanks Mr. Reed, for the enjoyable and interesting story.
July 11, 2013
I liked the uniqueness of this story, focusing on attraction to a larger body type and it provided a really interesting view of judging people by their outward appearance.
When we first meet Caden, he's not having a lot of luck in the relationship department. Caden compares his success with his best friend Bobby who is attractive and has high standards in regards to the men he hooks up with - only the most gorgeous will do. And Bobby has a lot of success. Caden is often left behind and he questions his own attraction to chubbier men.
Caden sees Kevin at a club and is immediately attracted by his size and they later meet up again on the train "...he liked this guy. Not only was he his physical ideal, everything about him indicated he had brains and a sense of humor too. That trifecta was something Caden had yet to encounter in his romantic life....."
Caden and Kevin share a perfect night and it is sad to see Kevin doubt himself so much afterwards. He has such low self-esteem that he thinks he is a last resort for Caden, a fall-back option. In fact this couldn't be further from the truth and after another date, Caden is even more taken with Kevin. "This one dished out sweet and sexy in equal measures, and that combination, Caden thought, was hard to come by."
The problems start when Caden needs to go away for six weeks and Kevin uses this time to 'improve'. He diets and exercises and by the time Caden returns, is a new man. He had now become one of the gorgeous types favoured by Caden's best friend Bobby. What follows is an interesting series of miscommunication and sabotage with Kevin largely stuck in the middle and not really knowing what is going on.
What struck me as a standout in this book was the reversal of roles. Caden is attracted to, what could be called less-than-perfect men, which seems a good thing, but then he turns out to be quite shallow, judging Kevin on the changes to his outward appearance.(Luckily he realises his error). Bobby seems to get all the best guys but really doesn't have a lot of happiness "As he stood shivering in the dark, he felt alone, and it occurred to him that, for someone as promiscuous as he was, he felt alone a lot."
I still don't fully understand Bobby's actions and will be interested to see if I can grow to like his character in Raining Men.
Kevin was my favourite character in this book, whether in his original form or the new, smaller version. He didn't allow the change in his outward appearance to alter his behaviour and he remained the same man he always was. He was honest, kind and thoughtful. Luckily he had a wise mother and the guts to chase after Caden.
"You have to go after him. You have to make things right. See, people are precious. In the end, they're all we have. And our connections to them are so fragile - they're like the most tender plant shoots, needing nuturing, and without it, they can wither away to nothing.
And they can be gone in a flash.".......
"Love is too valuable to toss away over a misunderstanding.
You need to at least try."
3.5 stars
I now publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!
When we first meet Caden, he's not having a lot of luck in the relationship department. Caden compares his success with his best friend Bobby who is attractive and has high standards in regards to the men he hooks up with - only the most gorgeous will do. And Bobby has a lot of success. Caden is often left behind and he questions his own attraction to chubbier men.
Caden sees Kevin at a club and is immediately attracted by his size and they later meet up again on the train "...he liked this guy. Not only was he his physical ideal, everything about him indicated he had brains and a sense of humor too. That trifecta was something Caden had yet to encounter in his romantic life....."
Caden and Kevin share a perfect night and it is sad to see Kevin doubt himself so much afterwards. He has such low self-esteem that he thinks he is a last resort for Caden, a fall-back option. In fact this couldn't be further from the truth and after another date, Caden is even more taken with Kevin. "This one dished out sweet and sexy in equal measures, and that combination, Caden thought, was hard to come by."
The problems start when Caden needs to go away for six weeks and Kevin uses this time to 'improve'. He diets and exercises and by the time Caden returns, is a new man. He had now become one of the gorgeous types favoured by Caden's best friend Bobby. What follows is an interesting series of miscommunication and sabotage with Kevin largely stuck in the middle and not really knowing what is going on.
What struck me as a standout in this book was the reversal of roles. Caden is attracted to, what could be called less-than-perfect men, which seems a good thing, but then he turns out to be quite shallow, judging Kevin on the changes to his outward appearance.(Luckily he realises his error). Bobby seems to get all the best guys but really doesn't have a lot of happiness "As he stood shivering in the dark, he felt alone, and it occurred to him that, for someone as promiscuous as he was, he felt alone a lot."
I still don't fully understand Bobby's actions and will be interested to see if I can grow to like his character in Raining Men.
Kevin was my favourite character in this book, whether in his original form or the new, smaller version. He didn't allow the change in his outward appearance to alter his behaviour and he remained the same man he always was. He was honest, kind and thoughtful. Luckily he had a wise mother and the guts to chase after Caden.
"You have to go after him. You have to make things right. See, people are precious. In the end, they're all we have. And our connections to them are so fragile - they're like the most tender plant shoots, needing nuturing, and without it, they can wither away to nothing.
And they can be gone in a flash.".......
"Love is too valuable to toss away over a misunderstanding.
You need to at least try."
3.5 stars
I now publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!
February 25, 2020
I suppose Caden could be called a "chubby chaser," but darn it, he just likes a sturdy guy with some heft and substance. And when he meets Keith at a Boystown bar, he is smitten. Keith, for his past, is taken with the lean, fit Caden who runs daily. After just a date (and a half) Caden is called home when he learns his beloved mother has cancer.
It's easy to love Keith, who is a kind nurturing man. But Keith isn't comfortable with his body and over the six weeks Caden is gone, Keith starts working out and loses 30 pounds in an attempt to surprise and delight Caden with his new fit body. But Caden is less than appreciative. As he tells himself "You like big butts. You like bellies. You want a man with a little meat on his bones. What's wrong with that?" and he wonders "Is sexual attraction supposed to have some sort of PC all-for-one and one-for-all universality?"
I like how Reed challenges our preconceptions about attraction and the part it plays in love. And as a counterpoint, Reed introduces us to Caden's best friend Bobby, who is all about the superficial and sheer sexual attraction. On the surface, Bobby has it all yet his life is empty and void of true emotional depth. It's very easy to hate Bobby and his malicious game-playing but definitely read "Raining Men" (which is Bobby's story) to get the whole story.
As a series, the two books work together beautifully as it strives to show how "the essence of a person doesn't change with his appearance. To the core, essentially, people are not a collection of blood, sking, bones, and muscle, but something harder to put one's finger on. The body is a shell, and it contains the fragile and ethereal spirit of the person." 4 stars for "Chaser."
I received an ARC from NineStar Press, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
It's easy to love Keith, who is a kind nurturing man. But Keith isn't comfortable with his body and over the six weeks Caden is gone, Keith starts working out and loses 30 pounds in an attempt to surprise and delight Caden with his new fit body. But Caden is less than appreciative. As he tells himself "You like big butts. You like bellies. You want a man with a little meat on his bones. What's wrong with that?" and he wonders "Is sexual attraction supposed to have some sort of PC all-for-one and one-for-all universality?"
I like how Reed challenges our preconceptions about attraction and the part it plays in love. And as a counterpoint, Reed introduces us to Caden's best friend Bobby, who is all about the superficial and sheer sexual attraction. On the surface, Bobby has it all yet his life is empty and void of true emotional depth. It's very easy to hate Bobby and his malicious game-playing but definitely read "Raining Men" (which is Bobby's story) to get the whole story.
As a series, the two books work together beautifully as it strives to show how "the essence of a person doesn't change with his appearance. To the core, essentially, people are not a collection of blood, sking, bones, and muscle, but something harder to put one's finger on. The body is a shell, and it contains the fragile and ethereal spirit of the person." 4 stars for "Chaser."
I received an ARC from NineStar Press, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
May 17, 2013
Makes you think about first impressions and how we are often prejudice even if we don't realize it.
I liked the premise and Caden and Kevin's characters, the miscommunication trope, not so much. That and, anyone who had a friend like Bobby should not be surprised when the hand plays out the way it does. One smack upside Caden's head for being stupid and trusting asses and a second one for not attacking the problem head on with Kevin. And Kevin earns one smack for being inconsiderate and vain with hyperstress puppy Caden.
Done smacking. I liked the story and the theme, and enjoyed my time reading it.
I liked the premise and Caden and Kevin's characters, the miscommunication trope, not so much. That and, anyone who had a friend like Bobby should not be surprised when the hand plays out the way it does. One smack upside Caden's head for being stupid and trusting asses and a second one for not attacking the problem head on with Kevin. And Kevin earns one smack for being inconsiderate and vain with hyperstress puppy Caden.
Done smacking. I liked the story and the theme, and enjoyed my time reading it.
August 27, 2012
This is a very good story and you won't be able to put it down once you begin.
I cried my eyes out a few times and loved it :)
I definitely recommend it and I look forward to reading more by Ricky R. Reed.
Thank you Rick for your wonderful book!
I cried my eyes out a few times and loved it :)
I definitely recommend it and I look forward to reading more by Ricky R. Reed.
Thank you Rick for your wonderful book!
Read
August 27, 2012I have this unseemly need to kick Rick in the chins right now. I will get over it and post a real review later.
February 21, 2020
While I really liked this book, and two of the main characters, I absolutely hated Bobby. I read the second half of the book with rage and clenched fists because Bobby is an absolute asshole. With friends like that, who needs enemies?
I really wanted to hurt someone when I finished this book. Actually, not someone. Bobby. His behavior made me so angry, I made a new shelf especially for him - sucky friends are sucky.
This book was my first exposure to Rick R. Reed, one I picked up during a tweetaway from the publisher. It languished in my TBR for a while, but I kept seeing it pop up on my feed, and my co-blogger had read it, so I finally opened the file on my Nook.
And didn't stop reading until the very end. It sucked me right in and didn't let me go, laughing and crying and ranting and cheering and wtf'ing throughout.
Caden and Bobby are best friends, out on the prowl on weekends looking for love in all the wrong places. While Bobby is self-centered and vain, only looking for the most prime choice of fresh meat while screwing his way through the Chicago gay population, Caden is secretly attracted to the type of man that might be considered 'chubby' - a word I dislike - which is something he's kept hidden from Bobby.
While Bobby hooks up with the latest gorgeous guy, Caden locks eyes with Kevin, a blond hunk with a beard carrying a little extra weight. Their first meeting in the club's bathroom has Caden checking out Kevin's equipment, getting caught and feeling embarrassed. On his way home after a disappointing attempt at hooking up with some random guy, he runs into Kevin again on the El, and the spark that was evident in the bathroom earlier carries them to Kevin's apartment for a night of holy hot boysecks, Batman.
Caden is hooked. Waking up with Kevin the next morning, he starts to feel the first inklings that this might turn into a long-term relationship. And he likes it. He also knows that he has to keep it secret from Bobby bc reasons. Of course, that's not conducive to getting the romance off to a good start. From there, the book unfolds their romantic story, with false starts and misunderstandings and misconceptions and sucky friends who are really fucking sucky.
I liked the characters Mr. Reed created - Caden's secret longing for something more permanent, his strong attraction to what is usually not considered a love interest in romance novels, and his strange friendship with Bobby all brought something to the character's depth. We spend time in Caden's head and see his own insecurities and questions.
Kevin is also a great character - steady, kind, conscientious - and makes a wonderful love interest. And where he might have stayed one-dimensional as the pudgy guy, the author creates realistic conflict about perceptions, visual preferences and what really matters about a person, as well as Kevin's own misconceptions about himself and Caden's needs and wants.
In effect, this book was a character study about a man who thinks he shouldn't be attracted to what is attractive to him and questions his own shallow behavior and a man who changes himself in an erroneous attempt to make himself more attractive, pushed by his own insecurities. There is character growth in both Caden and to some extent Kevin, which made sense within the overall story line. The author also touched on how expectations can derail a relationship when they're not met, and how what's on the outside doesn't matter as much as what's on the inside. It's almost an homage to the old saying that beauty is only skin-deep - and the heart wants what the heart wants.
As for Bobby - well, nicely put, he is an ass. Seriously, I hated him from the start, with his pompous 'Gorgeous men like me only fuck other gorgeous men' BS, and when he started to intrude on and then jeopardize the budding relationship between Caden and Kevin, all for his own personal gain by lying, cheating, creating false evidence - yeah, I wanted to see him bleed. I wanted him to hurt, and I wanted to be the one to hurt him.
Until... well, until I realized that there was a sequel in which Bobby was featured in a completely different light. See my review of Raining Men for more.
I really wanted to hurt someone when I finished this book. Actually, not someone. Bobby. His behavior made me so angry, I made a new shelf especially for him - sucky friends are sucky.
This book was my first exposure to Rick R. Reed, one I picked up during a tweetaway from the publisher. It languished in my TBR for a while, but I kept seeing it pop up on my feed, and my co-blogger had read it, so I finally opened the file on my Nook.
And didn't stop reading until the very end. It sucked me right in and didn't let me go, laughing and crying and ranting and cheering and wtf'ing throughout.
Caden and Bobby are best friends, out on the prowl on weekends looking for love in all the wrong places. While Bobby is self-centered and vain, only looking for the most prime choice of fresh meat while screwing his way through the Chicago gay population, Caden is secretly attracted to the type of man that might be considered 'chubby' - a word I dislike - which is something he's kept hidden from Bobby.
While Bobby hooks up with the latest gorgeous guy, Caden locks eyes with Kevin, a blond hunk with a beard carrying a little extra weight. Their first meeting in the club's bathroom has Caden checking out Kevin's equipment, getting caught and feeling embarrassed. On his way home after a disappointing attempt at hooking up with some random guy, he runs into Kevin again on the El, and the spark that was evident in the bathroom earlier carries them to Kevin's apartment for a night of holy hot boysecks, Batman.
Caden is hooked. Waking up with Kevin the next morning, he starts to feel the first inklings that this might turn into a long-term relationship. And he likes it. He also knows that he has to keep it secret from Bobby bc reasons. Of course, that's not conducive to getting the romance off to a good start. From there, the book unfolds their romantic story, with false starts and misunderstandings and misconceptions and sucky friends who are really fucking sucky.
I liked the characters Mr. Reed created - Caden's secret longing for something more permanent, his strong attraction to what is usually not considered a love interest in romance novels, and his strange friendship with Bobby all brought something to the character's depth. We spend time in Caden's head and see his own insecurities and questions.
Kevin is also a great character - steady, kind, conscientious - and makes a wonderful love interest. And where he might have stayed one-dimensional as the pudgy guy, the author creates realistic conflict about perceptions, visual preferences and what really matters about a person, as well as Kevin's own misconceptions about himself and Caden's needs and wants.
In effect, this book was a character study about a man who thinks he shouldn't be attracted to what is attractive to him and questions his own shallow behavior and a man who changes himself in an erroneous attempt to make himself more attractive, pushed by his own insecurities. There is character growth in both Caden and to some extent Kevin, which made sense within the overall story line. The author also touched on how expectations can derail a relationship when they're not met, and how what's on the outside doesn't matter as much as what's on the inside. It's almost an homage to the old saying that beauty is only skin-deep - and the heart wants what the heart wants.
As for Bobby - well, nicely put, he is an ass. Seriously, I hated him from the start, with his pompous 'Gorgeous men like me only fuck other gorgeous men' BS, and when he started to intrude on and then jeopardize the budding relationship between Caden and Kevin, all for his own personal gain by lying, cheating, creating false evidence - yeah, I wanted to see him bleed. I wanted him to hurt, and I wanted to be the one to hurt him.
Until... well, until I realized that there was a sequel in which Bobby was featured in a completely different light. See my review of Raining Men for more.
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