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Sweet Lips
Ranch hand Deke has fallen in love with young Wyatt-dubbed "sweet lips." But Wyatt is also the boss' son. When both men are caught making love, Deke realizes they must go on the run-or face a certain lynching. Setting off on a grand adventure, they must fight their enemies by day, but at night they can indulge their passions.
224 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 13, 2009
Yes, it's the return of the gay cowboys. Be still my beating heart.
Sweet Lips by Mel Smith, is the first m/m Western I've read that's set in the old West, with all the complications that entails. The protagonist falls hard for Wyatt, the son of a powerful ranch owner. Wyatt falls just as hard, and when the two are discovered in flagrante masculine-o, they are forced to go on the run.
And run they do! They flee across a ton of terrain, but make time everywhere they go to fall deeper in love, and renew their bond (so to speak) at every chance.
Smith's writing style is pretty good: light and breezy, with some care put into the historical aspects of the setting, and both characters are well fleshed out, and the peril is immense and terrifying, and actually perilous. I was really impressed with how well Smith juggled all the supporting characters, and gave them life without letting them overwhelm the plot or having to dwell on them unnecessarily. They're quite well done without being ham-fisted.
Oh! There's a bit of a violent section at the end, but nothing that's out of character for the time period and setting, and even though I didn't care for it, it's kind of vital to the plot--which is all I'll say, lest I ruin it for everyone else.
And of course, there's a happy ending.
(I know, but you so needed to know that! And besides, it's m/m romance. How can you not have a happy ending? In *ahem* the narrative sense of the term.)
Btw, I'm definitely taking book recommendations for my summer reading, if anyone has any. Bring 'em on!
Sweet Lips by Mel Smith, is the first m/m Western I've read that's set in the old West, with all the complications that entails. The protagonist falls hard for Wyatt, the son of a powerful ranch owner. Wyatt falls just as hard, and when the two are discovered in flagrante masculine-o, they are forced to go on the run.
And run they do! They flee across a ton of terrain, but make time everywhere they go to fall deeper in love, and renew their bond (so to speak) at every chance.
Smith's writing style is pretty good: light and breezy, with some care put into the historical aspects of the setting, and both characters are well fleshed out, and the peril is immense and terrifying, and actually perilous. I was really impressed with how well Smith juggled all the supporting characters, and gave them life without letting them overwhelm the plot or having to dwell on them unnecessarily. They're quite well done without being ham-fisted.
Oh! There's a bit of a violent section at the end, but nothing that's out of character for the time period and setting, and even though I didn't care for it, it's kind of vital to the plot--which is all I'll say, lest I ruin it for everyone else.
And of course, there's a happy ending.
(I know, but you so needed to know that! And besides, it's m/m romance. How can you not have a happy ending? In *ahem* the narrative sense of the term.)
Btw, I'm definitely taking book recommendations for my summer reading, if anyone has any. Bring 'em on!
November 19, 2011
I tease Mom all the time about her "smut books", the romances she gets from her sister and goes through so quickly. Well, this is the gay equivalent of those romances and, although I've never read a romance before, I have a feeling this is a bit more racy (and explicit) than your average Harlequin.
Deke is a cowboy in the Old West; he was kicked out by his father when a stranger takes advantage of him sexually as a young teen, and he's been working as a cowboy ever since, not hanging around in one place too long for fear someone will discover his secret. While working on one ranch, he is introduced to Wyatt, the rancher's young (college-aged) son. Wyatt comes on to Deke, Deke tries to say no but eventually gives in to temptation. When the rancher discovers them together, he thinks that Deke has "turned" Wyatt into a sissy-boy, and attempts to castrate Deke. Wyatt intervenes, and in the process, one of the ranch hands gets shot and killed. Deke and Wyatt go on the run, and Wyatt's father tells the authorities that Deke raped Wyatt and killed the ranch hand. The rest of the book is about Deke learning to let down the defenses he's built up since his father disowned him, and about both of them showing just how much they're willing to go through for love.
While I mostly laugh about romances and make fun of the concept of "true love" and "finding Mr. Right", I have to admit that it was nice to read about these two guys who aren't the stereotypical "man-whores" that a lot of people perceive gay men as being. And ok, I'll admit, the ending made me cry. There, are you happy?
Deke is a cowboy in the Old West; he was kicked out by his father when a stranger takes advantage of him sexually as a young teen, and he's been working as a cowboy ever since, not hanging around in one place too long for fear someone will discover his secret. While working on one ranch, he is introduced to Wyatt, the rancher's young (college-aged) son. Wyatt comes on to Deke, Deke tries to say no but eventually gives in to temptation. When the rancher discovers them together, he thinks that Deke has "turned" Wyatt into a sissy-boy, and attempts to castrate Deke. Wyatt intervenes, and in the process, one of the ranch hands gets shot and killed. Deke and Wyatt go on the run, and Wyatt's father tells the authorities that Deke raped Wyatt and killed the ranch hand. The rest of the book is about Deke learning to let down the defenses he's built up since his father disowned him, and about both of them showing just how much they're willing to go through for love.
While I mostly laugh about romances and make fun of the concept of "true love" and "finding Mr. Right", I have to admit that it was nice to read about these two guys who aren't the stereotypical "man-whores" that a lot of people perceive gay men as being. And ok, I'll admit, the ending made me cry. There, are you happy?
July 22, 2008
As posted in [http://www.amazon.com]:
Uh, no.
Deke is a "nomadic rancher", going from places to places looking for jobs on the farm. He's finds one and has the hots for the boss' son, Wyatt. When they're caught in the middle of an action, they flee for safety or else face a lynching.
Eventually, they flee to a lone woman's land (and her kids). From there, things just really flopped. The sex acts is pretty redundant. Therefore, there's no erotica in there. It's just boring and weird.
Uh, no.
Deke is a "nomadic rancher", going from places to places looking for jobs on the farm. He's finds one and has the hots for the boss' son, Wyatt. When they're caught in the middle of an action, they flee for safety or else face a lynching.
Eventually, they flee to a lone woman's land (and her kids). From there, things just really flopped. The sex acts is pretty redundant. Therefore, there's no erotica in there. It's just boring and weird.
July 1, 2008
I know, I know .. this is sort of like a literary version of a gay movie of the week. It is certainly enjoyable; however, even if it does not challenge the reader. I suspect the author makes a decent living with this type of gay beach read cum romance novel (note to editor: pun intended.)It is what it is and I'm perfectly happy with that.
July 30, 2013
It was a cute western romance.
December 12, 2014
Good, not the best I've ever read. Some situations weren't... all that believable, especially some situations where they made love. But it was quick read and sweet, so for that it gets three stars.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews