Reader Views

Orientation: A Novel About Reincarnation and Love

“Orientation” is surprisingly different from Rick R. Reed’s previous highly suspenseful novels such as “IM” and “High Risk.” Most of his books feature very dysfunctional villains whom the plot circles around. While “Orientation” includes the character of Ethan, who is a frightening yet somewhat inadequate villain, the novel’s real focus is on love rather than suspense or terror.

Robert and Keith were lovers whose relationship lasted only a short time before Keith died of AIDS at Christmas 1983. Robert cared for Keith until the end, and Keith, who was financially well-off from writing popular children’s books, left Robert with enough money to be comfortable the rest of his life. In the years that follow, Robert has had several lovers, but none ever compared to Keith. Robert, now well into his forties, is living with Ethan, who is two decades younger. While their relationship was hot at the start, they have started to grow apart. Robert even suspects Ethan of cheating on him when Ethan makes excuses for why they cannot spend Christmas together.

Alone on Christmas, Robert goes for a walk along the beach. He soon meets, Jess, a young woman who is contemplating drowning herself in Lake Michigan because her girlfriend, Ramona, left her. Robert convinces Jess to come home with him, and then a strange series of coincidences and dreams make Robert and Jess believe she may be Keith reincarnated. To substantiate the possibility, Jess was born the same day Keith died.

Robert, tired of Ethan’s antics, begins contemplating a relationship with Jess. Little does Robert know that Ethan also wants out of their relationship, but in a far more drastic way.  Will Robert end up with Jess? Is Jess really Keith reincarnated? And if so, can a gay man love a lesbian woman?

Rick R. Reed puts his characters in a difficult situation. The concept of reincarnation and two lovers meeting again is not completely original in fiction, but Reed has done his research—he mentions the real life story of Bridey Murphy’s claim to reincarnation, and he adds a gay twist to the reincarnation plot. I was also reminded of the more disturbing scenes in the Nicole Kidman film, “Birth,” where a child was Kidman’s reincarnated husband. While Reed explored paranormal possibilities, I appreciated the realistic ending.

Fans of Reed’s novels will be entertained by Ethan’s attractive villain role—I actually found him the most interesting character in the book—but readers will also note a different tone to this book which suggests Reed is seeking to express himself in new ways, pushing against the limits of his genre just enough not to lose his faithful readership, yet to explore deeper questions, not simply about being gay, but about what it is to love someone.

“Orientation” is not my favorite of Rick R. Reed’s novels, and I think the end is a bit contrived to reflect the suspense ending his fans would expect, but I appreciate his effort to push the genre’s boundaries. I will be interested to see if he continues to look deeper into his characters’ emotions beyond the fear, lust, and anger that motivated his previous villains. I also enjoy the paranormal possibilities he only slightly experimented with in “Deadly Vision” and now in “Orientation.” I would like to see him focus more on the paranormal in his future novels.

Orientation
Rick R. Reed
Amber Quill Press (2008)
ISBN 9781602729377
Reviewed by Tyler R. Tichelaar for Reader Views (7/08)

The Handyman’s Promise

“The Handyman’s Promise,” is the third book in a series about handyman Ed Stephens.  It begins in 1983, when Ed’s partner Rick Benton is preparing to return home to him after living in Indianapolis for over a year.  Rick moved away to get training in a career in real estate; now he is coming home so that he can work in his home town and continue his life with Ed.  Both of them seem to love each other deeply and to be committed to their relationship.

Ed has some insecurity in regards to Rick’s fidelity because of the pain and betrayal that he has seen some of his friends experience in their homosexual relationships.  This is the time of the advent of AIDS, so that adds to his concerns.  Still he is happy to have Rick back home.  Being a gay couple is not easy in this small Indiana town.  They have some experiences with intolerance and hatred.  They also see their gay friends going through rough times, especially with their families.  But the people that they do have in their lives that care about them are really wonderful people.

In this story, the author takes us back into the 1980s.  His mention of songs that came from that era caused them to play in my head as I read.  This really made me feel like I was back in that time.  Also when he discusses the AIDS issue, it brought back a lot of memories for me.  I worked in a hospital at that time, and the Vice President of the hospital’s brother was in ICU with AIDS.  I remember him getting top care, yet no one really knew how to treat him.  I also remember a friend being diagnosed with AIDS.  It was such a helpless feeling to know that there was nothing that could be done.  These memories made Ed and Rick’s story seem more real to me.  

“The Handyman’s Promise” tells the story of two men who want to build their lives together and share their dreams with each other.  It is empowering to see them work towards their goals together and to build meaningful relationships with the people around them.  I think that many couples could a lot about relationships from reading their story.  I highly recommend this novel.

The Handyman’s Promise
Nick Poff
AuthorHouse (2008)
ISBN 9781434370549      
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (6/08)

God’s Army to Purge Homosexuality

In February of 1977, a group who calls themselves “The Army of God,” took responsibility for bombing a gay night club. This group is known for bombing abortion clinics. For some reason, they seem to think that people that are gay are responsible for abortions. I find this interesting because people that are gay can’t get each other pregnant. “God’s Army to Purge Homosexuality” is a fictional story written with this incident in mind.

Charles MacDougale is secretly gay. He has kept this secret through his 35-year marriage. He is very well connected and has tremendous influence over the Republican Party. Keeping his sexuality a secret, he privately helps fund support for homosexual groups. When a radical anti-abortion group starts bombing gay bars, he hires Nicole, his bodyguard, and Brent, a private investigator, to go undercover to discover who is responsible. Nicole and Brent pose as a married couple to infiltrate this group. What is interesting about this is that they are both homosexual and in spite of their attractiveness, they have no relationship interest in each other.

As Nicole and Brent go undercover, they have to deal with some very unsavory characters who appear to be fine upstanding citizens on the surface. As they do their undercover work, more bombings occur that affect them personally and a tragedy strikes close to home. This makes the situation even more dangerous for the duo. It also helps them to grow personally because they develop a deeper friendship with each other.

I really found this book to be interesting. It is very scary to know that there are radical groups in our country that feel that it is okay to kill people for their cause. Wanting more information about the real incident that happened, I investigated on the Internet and learned a lot. In addition to gaining knowledge, I also really enjoyed the story. Bourgeois definitely has a talent for developing complex plots and creating interesting characters. Having read tons of romance novels, I really enjoyed the way that he developed the relationship between the two characters. They bonded into a real friendship that was not marred by sexual tension. They also developed a better understanding for each other's differences.

“God’s Army to Purge Homosexuality” is really a good book; however, it is not for people who are anti-abortion or anti-homosexual. Everybody else will find this book compelling, and refreshingly different.

God’s Army to Purge Homosexuality
B. Alan Bourgeois
Wizard Consulting and Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9780979628801
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (3/08)

Darkness Descending

This was the first book of this type that I had ever read. It was an eye-opening experience. This type of family problems has not affected me closely. I am aware that most families have some family member who is bisexual but have not realized until I read “Dark Descending” how deeply it affects everyone within that person’s circle - family/friends/co-workers/innocent bystanders.

The book takes a man, who loves his family more deeply than he loves himself, through his trials and tribulations in regards to his homosexuality and how his family accepts/disapproves of his lifestyle. Every family member has his own desires, phobias, and misconceptions to deal with, including their love for each other and the family unity and how his sexual orientation affects them each in their own way.

The son refuses to have anything to do with him. The son, who is a public figure, sees his father through the eyes of his political advisers and contemporary companions. The son will not let his wife or his twin children access his father, returning all gifts for them and himself by stating refusing delivery.

His mother picks her new lover - male - over her son - and his opinion that he is only after her money and not her. She says that he is just like his father - a controller - and that she now does not consider him her son. He is right but by the time his mother figures this out - she has married him and has had a stroke. The new husband does not want to spend the money to pay for the best treatment nor the time to spend with her - so he takes all the money and leaves.

The man’s lover breaks it off with him because he will not go out in public with him as his boyfriend. The same night his mother disowns him. He ends up in jail, on a holiday weekend, for drinking, by the police who hate homosexuals and cannot find anyone who will post bail. When his son has a friend to finally get him out of jail, he tries to hang himself but is discovered by his son who heard about his grandmother’s heart attack.

Through his treatment by a doctor who treats him like he matters, some staff members who hate homosexuals, an asylum who does nothing but ties him to his bed and refuses to feed or treat him except to keep him medicated, he loses touch with reality. He thinks he is only 15-years-old and remembers nothing after that age.

His son and family come home to take care of him as a friend. They learn to love him and his lover as people. It takes longer for his son to let go of his preconceived idea of homosexuals and their love.

He remembers and takes his lover - who had been beaten and raped severely - away for a vacation, just the two of them to a deserted island. They agreed to move in together and live as a unit. It takes a lot to go against what society feels is considered NORMAL and live and love your life the way you want.

This book is not for those who are homophobic or have bias against people who love their own sex. It is a book for the mature adults who understand love regardless of who loves.

This is an uplifting book - about love - the cover is dark and forbidding. I thought at first it was either a horror or murder mystery book.

“Darkness Descending” is a love story told with all the problems that people have. The only difference is the sexual orientation of the lovers and society’s belief in the normal.

Darkness Descending
Bethann Korsmit
iUniverse (2007)
ISBN 9780595444052
Reviewed by Nancy Wade for Reader Views (1/08)

Longhorns

This love story introduces readers to a bunch of tough, cattle-herding cowboys living on the prairie for several weeks. Although none of them would classify themselves as gay, it does not stop them from satisfying their sexual appetites with their fellow cowboys. Not far into the story, the author introduces us to Buck, the handsome drifter that attracts men and women alike. His loving, open, honest, and sometimes outrageous, manner immediately wins every cowboy’s heart, except the heart of the man he longs for — Les the “straight” ranch boss. As Buck proves that he can ride with the best of them, he strives to conquer Les’s heart, but that proves to be a challenge even for the toughest cowboy.

The author skillfully weaves a believable story of two men falling in love. Buck, the self-accepting man that is not afraid to open his heart in the hopes of finding true love, and Les, the “straight” ranch boss who questions his morals as he struggles with his sexual desires for Buck. This realistic, sometimes humorous, love-story is an easy, relaxing read that will be enjoyed by anyone who takes pleasure in a good romance. Whether gay, or straight, readers will be rooting for Buck to get his man in “Longhorns.”

Longhorns
Victor J. Banis
Carroll & Graf (2007)
ISBN 9780786719525
Reviewed by Reina Santana for Reader Views (9/07)

Sticky Fingers: A Tess Camillo Mystery (An Alyson Mystery)

Reviewed by Cherie Fisher of Reader Views (6/07)

I had a sleepless night thanks to “Sticky Fingers.” First, the book was so good that I could not put it down until I found out what happened, and once I finished, I could not get the images of snakes out of my mind! Morgan Hunt’s wonderful writing style will engage you from the first page and keep you turning pages until the very end.

Read complete review at Reader Views

Dance of the Heart

Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (5/07)

“Dance of the Heart” is a quick-read novel of only 118 pages, however, there is so much more to this story than one would expect. First of all, Therrian does a fantastic job of setting up the scenes, the characters, and the beginning. It was very clear to me who the characters were and what role they played. Michael Baldwin is successful and flourishing. He is well-balanced in his career as a successful professional dancer and home life with a longtime partner, David. And, they just built a beautiful home on Lake Michigan. All goes well until his lead partner, who is morbidly disliked, accidentally dies.

Read Complete Review at Reader Views

The Handyman’s Reality

Nick Poff
AuthorHouse (2007)
ISBN 9781425997465
Reviewed by Tyler R. Tichelaar for Reader Views (4/07)

“The Handyman’s Reality” by Nick Poff is a relief to read. The marketplace is flooded with gay fiction that focuses on the erotic aspects of relationships, depicting a great deal of detailed sex. If it isn’t a lot of sex, gay novels have hate crimes against gays, serial killers out to get the gay population, or long, drawn-out tragedies of men dying of AIDS. While much gay fiction in these categories is still entertaining and well-written, I enjoyed that “The Handyman’s Reality” is a simpler story of two gay men building a life together. By making the story domestic rather than sensational, Poff shows himself capable of more mature writing than many of his fellow writers.

read complete review at ReaderViews.com

Calico

Dorien Grey
Zumaya Publications (2006)
ISBN 193413533X
Reviewed by Terry South for Reader Views (2/07)

“Calico” combines a multitude of genre's which includes romance, mystery, western, and adventure. Calico Ramsay is the protagonist and is a cowboy who happens to be gay. Calico has to escort two 17-year-old orphaned twins who are from Chicago, to their aunt after their uncle is killed just before he was to pick up the twins at the rail station. The twins are Sara and Josh, and Calico must protect them till he gets them to his Uncle Dan's sister, Rebecca, who lives in Bow Ridge, Colorado. Calico becomes aware of the dangers they are faced with when the first hotel they stay in goes up in flames. Calico realizes someone does not want them to reach their final destination. As their adventure continues, Calico begins to develop protective feelings for the twins and must safeguard them at all costs. Throughout their adventure the twins learn to adjust to the living out in the country while Calico is learning about himself.

read complete review at ReaderViews.com

The Unborn Spouse Situation

Matt Rauscher
Lulu Press (2005)
ISBN 1411629205
Reviewed by Thomas Gabrielli for Reader Views (2/07)

Augie Schoenberg, a young, gay film student, enrolls in a small-town Illinois college to pursue his dream. His dream is not so much as to become a screenwriter as it is to secure a boyfriend. Or, so it seems. The book describes his adventures, his friends, his exploits.

read complete review at ReaderViews.com