Title: Blink
Series: N/A
Author: Rick R. Reed
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: January 23, 2015
Heat Level: 3/5
Pairing: Male/Male
Length: 200 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24672251-blink
Synopsis:
This is the second Rick R. Reed book I've read this year, and the consistency continues! There's one thing that threads the two together, and I suspect would be a common element throughout all of Mr. Reed's thirty different novels. I have already selected a handful of them on Goodreads to the 'to read' category, and as much as Reed excels in the Contemporary M/M Romance category, I suspect his horror novels are equally as well written.
Here's the thing: Reed's books aren't what I would call fluffy. And fluffy is not bad - I like fluffy - those books where you settle in comfortably, the read is easy, and the story is sweet (even if there are obstacles to overcome by the main characters). That's not these novels. Reed makes you ponder about the tales he tells. He makes you struggle along with the main characters. He has a unique ability to get the reader deep into the mind space of the story he's weaving.
Let me explain.
In this tale, Andy struggles as a young man with his sexuality, and a chance encounter on the subway leads to a one night encounter. The strife experienced by Andy was tangible. I could relate. I have been there. I'm attracted to men...what does that mean...what about my plans for a family...everyone will hate me...I can't do this...but I can't NOT do it. Andy's struggles at the beginning of this book took me back to my early twenties when I was experiencing the exact same thing.
And then, as we bounce back and forth between the perspectives of Andy and Carlos, we get to see and experience how each of the people involved in this brief encounter views the one-night-stand, and how it shapes them.
Have you ever had that experience in your life? That moment that defined a part of you? A moment in time that burned a memory so deep into you that it formed a part of who you are? That tiny moment, a blink in your existence surely, but an occurrence so important that it framed who you were going to grow into? That is this book. It's the exploration of that moment for Andy and how he carried the one night encounter all throughout his adulthood until he was finally able to accept his sexuality.
And then we see that encounter from Carlos's eyes. In the end, for him, as much as he felt sorry for Andy, it didn't have the same impact. Stunning revelation. What triggers one person to become someone new or different, or embeds a lasting memory, is a passing moment in time for another.
I'm sure we all 'know' that's true, but this story paints it out in bright vivid colours.
It's also a romance about second chances. So those who are looking for that kind of story - this is for you.
I think I have to make more room for Mr. Reed's novels in my library. They are definitely memorable. Once again, the #ownvoices shines through. Those who live the lives and experiences have a certain knack, a magic, and the knowledge for retelling life's journeys. They make new stories that will resonate with every one of us who have experienced something similar.
Meet the Author:
Synopsis:
Life can change in the blink of an eye. That's a truth Andy Slater learns as a young man in 1982, taking the Chicago 'L' to work every morning. Andy's life is laid out before him: a good job, marriage to his female college sweetheart, and the white picket fence existence he believes in. But when he sees Carlos Castillo for the first time, Carlos's dark eyes and Latin appeal mesmerize him. Fate continues to throw them together until the two finally agree to meet up. At Andy's apartment, the pent-up passion of both young men is ignited but is snuffed out by an inopportune and poorly-timed phone call.
Flash forward to present day. Andy is alone, having married, divorced, and become the father of a gay son. He's comfortable but alone and has never forgotten the powerful pull of Carlos's gaze on the 'L' train. He vows to find him once more, hoping for a second chance. If life can change in the blink of an eye, what will the passage of thirty years do? To find out, Andy begins a search that might lead to heartache and disappointment or a love that will last forever...
Flash forward to present day. Andy is alone, having married, divorced, and become the father of a gay son. He's comfortable but alone and has never forgotten the powerful pull of Carlos's gaze on the 'L' train. He vows to find him once more, hoping for a second chance. If life can change in the blink of an eye, what will the passage of thirty years do? To find out, Andy begins a search that might lead to heartache and disappointment or a love that will last forever...
My Review:
This is the second Rick R. Reed book I've read this year, and the consistency continues! There's one thing that threads the two together, and I suspect would be a common element throughout all of Mr. Reed's thirty different novels. I have already selected a handful of them on Goodreads to the 'to read' category, and as much as Reed excels in the Contemporary M/M Romance category, I suspect his horror novels are equally as well written.
Here's the thing: Reed's books aren't what I would call fluffy. And fluffy is not bad - I like fluffy - those books where you settle in comfortably, the read is easy, and the story is sweet (even if there are obstacles to overcome by the main characters). That's not these novels. Reed makes you ponder about the tales he tells. He makes you struggle along with the main characters. He has a unique ability to get the reader deep into the mind space of the story he's weaving.
Let me explain.
In this tale, Andy struggles as a young man with his sexuality, and a chance encounter on the subway leads to a one night encounter. The strife experienced by Andy was tangible. I could relate. I have been there. I'm attracted to men...what does that mean...what about my plans for a family...everyone will hate me...I can't do this...but I can't NOT do it. Andy's struggles at the beginning of this book took me back to my early twenties when I was experiencing the exact same thing.
And then, as we bounce back and forth between the perspectives of Andy and Carlos, we get to see and experience how each of the people involved in this brief encounter views the one-night-stand, and how it shapes them.
Have you ever had that experience in your life? That moment that defined a part of you? A moment in time that burned a memory so deep into you that it formed a part of who you are? That tiny moment, a blink in your existence surely, but an occurrence so important that it framed who you were going to grow into? That is this book. It's the exploration of that moment for Andy and how he carried the one night encounter all throughout his adulthood until he was finally able to accept his sexuality.
And then we see that encounter from Carlos's eyes. In the end, for him, as much as he felt sorry for Andy, it didn't have the same impact. Stunning revelation. What triggers one person to become someone new or different, or embeds a lasting memory, is a passing moment in time for another.
I'm sure we all 'know' that's true, but this story paints it out in bright vivid colours.
It's also a romance about second chances. So those who are looking for that kind of story - this is for you.
I think I have to make more room for Mr. Reed's novels in my library. They are definitely memorable. Once again, the #ownvoices shines through. Those who live the lives and experiences have a certain knack, a magic, and the knowledge for retelling life's journeys. They make new stories that will resonate with every one of us who have experienced something similar.
Rating:
Available At:
Rick R. Reed draws inspiration from the lives of gay men to craft stories that quicken the heartbeat, engage emotions, and keep the pages turning. Although he dabbles in horror, dark suspense, and comedy, his attention always returns to the power of love. Rick is the award-winning and bestselling author of more than 50 works of published fiction and has been recognized by Lambda Literary as "a writer that doesn't disappoint." Rick lives in Palm Springs, CA with his beloved husband and their Boston terrier.
Catch up with Rick Reed here...
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