What's in a Name, by Pat Henshaw

[Ulysses]

What’s in a Name?
By Pat Henshaw
(first of the Foothills series)

Jimmy Patterson Is having the worst night of his life. Dumped by his boyfriend on his birthday, Jimmy decides to drown his sorrows at the Stonewall, the lone gay bar in his small foothills town. The only one who will listen to him seems to be the big bartender, who Jimmy has known ever since he and his best friend Felicity opened their coffee shop in the mall outside town. Thing is, Jimmy doesn’t know his name, because he wears a different name tag every night.

The first of a five-part series inspired by the relocation of Bay Area gay folks to the Sierra foothills after the economic downturn in 2008, “What’s in a Name” is a sweet-hearted look at romance and the importance of community. From the big lug of a bartender who saves Jimmy from himself—and gets him to try to guess his real name over the course of a week—to the various community characters Jimmy meets during that same week; Pat Henshaw’s novella is full of charm and a warm sense of place.

Confronted with prejudice and vandalism for the first time since leaving San Francisco, Jimmy looks increasingly to the Big Guy, as he calls his burly savior. Sure, it’s great to be independent, but it’s just as important to have good people at your back.

I’ve already bought book 2 in the series, for next time I need some sweetness to lighten my day.

[Liz]

Ulysses wrote: "What’s in a Name?
By Pat Henshaw
(first of the Foothills series)

Jimmy Patterson Is having the worst night of his life. Dumped by his boyfriend on his birthday, Jimmy decides to drown his sorrows ..."
I read this a few months ago, and now it's driving me crazy that I can't remember what his name turned out to be. I'll have to go back and check.

[Ulysses]

If you're desperate, I'll tell you...LOL

[Liz]

Ulysses wrote: "If you're desperate, I'll tell you...LOL"
Aww thanks Uly, you're such a prince. But I found it. It was at the end, so it was easy to find.