Have I mentioned that I think Jan Irving writes terrific sex? Well, she does.
What I particularly liked about this story was that the submissive man wa...moreHave I mentioned that I think Jan Irving writes terrific sex? Well, she does.
What I particularly liked about this story was that the submissive man was the older one by about 20 years than the Dominant man. And usually, I don't care for that dynamic (it may be stereotypical, but I usually like my Doms older, wiser, bigger, alphaier, etc.). But Irving made it work for me. I think it was because Kyle (the older one) thought a lot about being so much older, how he's a grown man with a sexual history and here he was getting totally turned on by the things that his much younger lover was introducing him to, pulling him out of his vanilla world. Jesse didn't present himself as the alpha-dom-know-it-all, but more like a confident man who happens to get off on being in charge in the bedroom. Whatever - I just liked it!
The two men have a history of communicating telepathically, and I found this interesting but saw it more as a device to move some of the plot points along. It didn't bother me.
Jesse's younger brother, David, is a well-rounded character and I hope to see him in a story when he comes of age!(less)
This reads like a pulp western: Lots of dialog, continuous action, no-nonsense description, almost no interior thoughts. What fascinated me was the pl...moreThis reads like a pulp western: Lots of dialog, continuous action, no-nonsense description, almost no interior thoughts. What fascinated me was the placement of real historical figures in an alternate 1881 U.S. universe, where the U.S. border ends at the Mississippi River, and is kept from going further by the Indians and the magic of their medicine men.
The Earp brothers, Doc Holliday, Bat Masterson, Thomas Edison, Ned Buntline, Kate Elder, Johnny Ringo, the McLaury brothers and Clanton gang all figure in the story, as does the shootout at the O.K. Corral. Edison keeps inventing things and Buntline makes them. Things like the electric lights on city streets, bronze, engine-driven stage coaches, lie detectors, electromagnetic indicators, and let's not forget, robot prostitutes.
I really liked this one. The characters of Jude and Gabriel were well-defined, and had conflicts that felt real and true. Jude wanted to do good in th...moreI really liked this one. The characters of Jude and Gabriel were well-defined, and had conflicts that felt real and true. Jude wanted to do good in the world, wanted to help people and feel like a part of something, but suffered because he couldn't really be himself. Gabriel wasn't the kind of man to settle, with tragedy in his past that set him moving. It isn't like he's always running from that though. It's more like he's just become a wanderer, never wanting to be tied to a place. The question is, can he be tied to a person? He is the strong one, the fighter and protector. Yet, while Jude is smaller and perhaps more refined, he has his own strengths. The old west setting was well used and helped set the tone for the difficulties faced. The sex was very, very hot, as Jude explored the sexuality he'd denied for so long, and Gabriel was able to lead him in that journey. Recommended. (less)
I'm sentimental and easily go to tears, and with this book I needed a kleenex box at my side (maybe I should add a new shelf). The story is really abo...moreI'm sentimental and easily go to tears, and with this book I needed a kleenex box at my side (maybe I should add a new shelf). The story is really about Dan's return to life after the coma/death of his lover. He's conflicted and guilt-ridden and lost and tends to run when he feels pressure. He acknowledges his own inability to understand certain things, particularly subtle communication from other people, and this goes a long way to helping the reader stay invested in his development.
There are a few significant other characters, and we get a decent feel for them but not in-depth. It seems they are there for some contrast to Dan, and a way for him to get his thoughts and feelings across. Even the love interests don't have a lot of weight, but that isn't a bad thing here. I guess you could say that this is a character study of Dan.
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