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Red+Blue (2012)

by A.B. Gayle(Favorite Author)

3.72 of 5 Votes: 1

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Dreamspinner Press

series

Opposites Attract

review 1: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.I won’t go into too much detail regarding the plot points as I do not appreciate spoilers and both the synopsis and other reviewers have done a more than adequate job in that department. This is the second book I have read by A.B. Gayle (the first was “Caught”) and just like the first, I really enjoyed this book.The characters (both main and most secondary) were well developed and realistic. They felt like people I wanted to know and in fact could have met in real life. Both main characters were basically good caring people who were by no means perfect, but their flaws seemed true to their age/stage in life. The story was long enough to allow for a slow build-up of the MC’s relationship, as we... morell as significant growth for each of them. I quite liked honest, open Ben, and in spite of a few age appropriate mistakes (ones I too made at that age) I would love to have him as a friend/lover. Although I liked Adrian, he frustrated me to no end and I wanted to smack some sense into him several times. He always put everyone else’s needs and happiness before his own, until finally in the end finding a way around his biggest obstacles while not sacrificing the things he had worked so hard to achieve.The author is very talented at painting scenes and providing enough details to draw you in without going overboard. Appropriately, my favorite scenes were between the two MC’s, specifically: the workout sessions, the making of the DVD presentation and subsequent trip to the convention and vineyard, and their canoe trip (which I felt I could truly see in my head).I actually enjoyed the build up to their relationship even more than the actual sex. The surreptitious looks, small touches, wishful fantasies, and anticipation were both very sensual and erotic. Although the sex was well written and quite hot I found that many times I was pulled out of the passion due to their complicated situation and feelings.I do have a few gripes though. The first is that, in spite of the length, I actually wanted more. In particular, there were several plot points that I would have liked more resolution to: Jason, Ben’s brothers (especially Chris), and a little more comeuppance for both Laurel and Adrian’s father. I also felt that the final conflict resolution was a little too easy and the ending was a bit abrupt, as I turned the last page and was expecting to find more (especially of the last scene). I would have also loved an epilogue, preferably several months or even years in the future.Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it. Four and a half stars.
review 2: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any compensation for this review, it's freely given.Essentially this book is told in 3 parts: Ben's (Red) first-person POV, Adrian's (Blue) first person POV, then a joint third person POV. An unusual format, but it worked.Red: Out-and-proud Ben leaves his family and childhood home in Minnesota for San Francisco. He has some goals he wants to accomplish there: march in a Pride parade (done), hit the club scene (definitely done), maybe meet the man for him.He interns at SSF Insurance, a small family-owned company that includes high-risk policies for it's clients. He admires this because his father was one of their high-risk clients before he died. While working at SSFI, Ben meets Jason who is one of the company's sales reps. He & Jason have somewhat of an on-again/off-again relationship, but Ben is really attracted to his boss Adrian whom he thinks is hetero. The pair become close while working out together & working on a presentation for the company & Ben's attraction to Adrian continues to grow as he gets to know him better.Blue: Adrian is buried deeply in the closet. He was living in Europe with his lover when called home due to his father having a heart attack. Adrian's father bullies him into staying in the States & gives him a prime position in the company, but Adrian has to suppress his "gay tendencies" or his father will cut him off & sell off the division that handles the high-risk policies. Adrian agrees (view spoiler) in order to keep the division running because he believes that everyone should have access to these types of policies. He's attracted to Ben, but has to keep his attraction hidden to keep the office open. Plus he believes Ben & Jason are a serious couple.Joint POV: As Ben & Adrian continue to grow their friendship, Ben is hit hard (view spoiler) Jason clues Ben in that Adrian is gay, but in the closet & that Jason was doing everything he could to torment Adrian with his "relationship" with Ben so that maybe Adrian would finally step out.Adrian decides to take some time off & books a canoe trip with Ben in Minnesota/Canada. While on the trip, Adrian finally admits his attraction to Ben & decides that he'll have a fling since his promise to his father was that he'd suppress his gayness while in the States, but since he'll be in Canada it will be ok to let go just while on the trip. This brings the pair even closer & Ben admits he's in love in Adrian. Unfortunately even though Ben's feelings are returned, Adrian just can't step away from everything he's been fighting for. Until he comes back home & finds out that Ben's position in the company has been eliminated & he misses Ben so much he works out a solution to cover the high-risk clients then confronts his fatherFinally after Ben's interfering brother compounds the problem by not telling Adrian how to get in touch with Ben after Ben moves into a different apartment, Adrian returns to his grandparents' vineyard where Ben has helping to make upgrades & the pair is reunited.Overall, I enjoyed the story. Jason was an asshat for being so reckless & then putting Ben at risk with his carelessness. Ben's brother was an asshat for keeping Ben's new location from Adrian, even knowing that Ben had feelings for Adrian. And my heart just broke for Adrian being forced to stay in the closet & not being able to be himself in order to protect other people. less

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