Book Rec

Tricks by Rick R. Reed

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Tricks can mean many things: sex partners, deceptions, even magic. In Rick R. Reed searing love story, it means all three. Arliss is a gorgeous young dancer at Tricks, the hottest club in Chicago's Boystown. Sean is the classic nerd, out of place in Tricks, but nursing his wounds from a recent break-up. When the two spy each other, magic blooms. But this opposites-attract tale does not run smooth. What happens when Arliss is approached by one of the biggest porn producers in the business? Can he make his dreams of stardom come true without throwing away the only real love he's ever known? And will this question even matter if the mysterious producers realize their dark intentions?

This is the first book I've read by this author (I know, I'm sooo late to the party) and I was prepared to be scared out of my wits. I was not. Instead, I was engaged from the first page, and completely invested in the characters by the end of the first chapter. Although Arliss and Sean are poles apart they are looking for the same thing--love, commitment, validation...The author takes us on a journey, exploring the darker side of the porn industry. Be careful what you wish for because it might come true is never more apparent as Arliss holds his dream in one hand even as that same dream almost destroys him. I enjoyed this novel very much and the best part is the fact that Rick R. Reed has a huge back list I can now explore.