Dreamspinner Presents http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5949
Blurb
Inside and outside the rodeo arena, Jeff Stratton and Clay Harris are rivals with tempers worse than the bulls they ride. So Clay is shocked when Jeff taps that wild energy and kisses him, sparking an undeniable urge for more of each others’ bodies. But when they discover they might want more than casual sex between competitions, Clay’s greatest fear is recognized: He is scared of being identified as gay. He’ll have to cowboy up if he hopes to hang on to Jeff on the circuit of love.
Review
This is a double GFY! Jeff and Clay have had some “experience” with other guys (circle jerks count, right?) but are basically two straight bull-riders who are neck in neck competing on the rodeo circuit. They aren’t even friends, maybe frenemies if anything, when one day Jeff gets overwhelmed by … something… and kisses Clay! Instead of getting punched in the mouth like you’d expect from a straight guy, Clay welcomes the change in their relationship and pushes for more.
The next morning Clay has some serious recriminations and bolts. Jeff, understandably, is both hurt and relieved, because he doesn’t exactly understand these feelings and doesn’t want any sort of “reputation” as a gay cowboy to tarnish his chances for rodeo success.
The bulk of the story is Clay and Jeff dancing around their feelings and experimenting with the physical side of their relationship. They get some great advice from the only “out” gay cowboys on the circuit but it isn’t enough to keep the boys from fretting (and frotting ;).
When push comes to shove they decide that their relationship is worth working on and we are left with a pretty satisfying HFN.
**
I was really loving this story – planning on at least a 4 heart review- up until the end. I didn’t like the vague way the boys left it and I was disappointed that they didn’t get a chance to really “go all the way” in terms of completing their commitment to one another.
I enjoy Paul Morey as a narrator and he did a good job with the country twang in this story. But, there were a few voices that were just “odd” and didn’t really seem to fit, so I don’t consider this his best work.
Overall, both the story and the narration are a 3.5 of 5 hearts.
If you need the “L” word, or penetrative sex you’ll be disappointed, but if you like cowboys who have no gay experience experimenting with both their bodies and their hearts – I think you’ll really like this story.
