MIXED MATCH: an MM love story

by Viva Gold

Raf is Black – Benji is White. They are both Gay, and Jewish…Raf Levy is living an ordinary life, working in retail while trying to decide on his future. A degree in Sociology has lots of options, but since returning from travelling, Raf isn’t in a hurry to commit. He goes to work, earns his commission…rinse & repeat, until Benji Kass happens. Like a precocious, privileged bolt from the blue, Benji swoops into Raf’s life. He’s determined to save Raf from a dreary existence. However, Raf steps up to do a bit of saving himself. Suddenly their differences don’t seem so great.Raf is about to discover that not everything is black and white – sometimes colours can be blended for exactly the right Mixed Match.Join Raf and Benji on their tumultuous, action packed, emotionally fuelled journey to their HEA.

Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2021

Reviews

[Rachel Hendry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mixed Match by Viva Gold.
A truly wonderful standalone book about Raf & Benji who meet when Benji visits Raf’s work and needs some help. After a series of unfortunate events Raf ends up at Benji’s place. After a fun filled night it doesn’t all go to plan and here we find a series of happenings that will test their early friendship and later on their relationship.
Viva Gold doesn’t shy away from hard to tackle subjects and she confronts them in her books often but she does it with skill and authenticity. There were some hard to read parts so read the trigger warning at the start of the book, but please know whilst the subjects of racism & homophobia do play a part in this book, it’s handled sensitively and with great care by the author.
The writing style is very descriptive and this helps to build that great connection with the book and the characters, it is well placed and flows pretty seamlessly from chapter to chapter and this ensures a smooth read allowing us, the reader, to have a much better reading experience.
I’m not going to discuss any more of the plot but suffice to say there is lots of love, laughter, friendship but also there is danger, violence and bigotry - but know it’s integral to the story and does not feel gratuitous. The violence is not described in great detail.
I absolutely loved seeing some previous much loved characters... pssst I’ll just say the G&T effect!!! 😍😍😍
So thank you Viva Gold once again for a top top read and it was most definitely worth the wait.

[James Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading this book. It is an interracial love story. I think it is very interesting and more authentic than not. Raf is gay black man who is Jewish. He is living a very ordinary life while trying to determine his next step. One day he meets Benji, another wealthy man of the Jewish faith who is white. It has been Raf’s experience that other gay Jewish men don’t care for him so he is guarded with the attentions of Benji. The two men must tackle notions of financial status, racism, and trust before they can be comfortable with each other. But while they two are trying to work on a relationship someone is trying to harm Benji. I enjoyed this book.

[Kathy Banks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Viva's writing. She uses what she knows and some research to create a world that is exciting and hot. Rafand Benji seem like an odd couple. Really they are a perfect match. With homophobic people jumping them and greed causing problems, they finally find their HEA. A very good read.

[Ian · Rating 1 out of 5]

God what the hell was that? 😑