Spare Parts: A Romentics Novel

Rating:
Summary: Quickie "romance" novel isn't much on substance
Review: In their forward to the book, authors Pomfret & Whittier (a gay couple in Boston, who bill themselves as "Scott & Scott" and who have extensive credits in short erotic fiction) point out they saw a "need" for gay romantic novels, and started Romentics to fill that genre. Each of the titles currently in print are relatively short (under 200 pages), quick reads, all with simplistic graphic-similar covers.

"Spare Parts" tells the story of Dan, the 36 year old workaholic owner of several automotive repair shops in a small city. After realizing there is something missing in his life, he goes out one night and meets Trent, a 27 year old struggling artist, whom Dan believes to be a male prostitute. They move in together, but each has a secret that he is afraid the other will learn: for Trent, the fact that he really isn't a hustler, and for Dan a realization that they had met about 10-12 years earlier, and Dan had not been very nice to him. Dan offers to have Trent trained as a mechanic to work in one of his shops, but Trent shows absolutely no aptitude for the profession, and appearances of Dan's "kept boy" at the shop fuel already existing business-hurting rumors that Dan seduces his young employees. They face their problems with the help of Trent's former roommate, a flamboyant young gay man named Nathan, and one of Dan's customers, Ida, who is impressed by Trent's photography.

Predictable storyline, and proofreading is obviously not one of their priorities. Not far removed from old paperback gay "friction" novels, with numerous sexually explicit scenes, though the accent is more on the relationship than the mechanics of their lovemaking. An amusing light read for those who don't want much of a plot to get in the way of the action.

Rating:
Summary: Refreshing
Review: This was a fun read.

I've enjoyed the dynamic between Dan and Trent. They have secrets, and they've done things they're not proud of - like most of us, I'd wager. I also enjoyed their age difference, though, I'm not sure why it was such a big deal (other than supporting the rumors about Dan and his young mechanics). And the sex was hot.

The book won't keep you away from your chores for very long, because it's an easy, quick read - difficult to put down - and not all that long - unfortunately. The occasional typo is distracting, but the novel still warrants a high rating.