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Book Title: A Fluid State
Author: Rob Browatzke
Publisher: Self Published
Cover Artist: Alexandria Corza
Release Date: January 3, 2020
Genre/s: Contemporary M/M Romance
Trope/s: Gay for You/Out for You
Heat Rating: 5 flames
Length: 70 000 words/272 pages
It is a standalone book.
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Patrick and Andrew find themselves faced with a chemistry they cannot deny
Blurb
Patrick returns from a tour of duty to find his son very different. Peter is dressing in girl's clothes, and his hair is too long, and he's obsessed with drag queens. None of that sits well with Patrick. Patrick then meets the drag queen Ann Moore, and starts to hang out with them.
Andrew is one of River City's best drag queens. As Ann Moore, he dazzles adults and children alike. When one of those children's fathers wants to find out more about what his son is enjoying, Andrew is happy to guide him. It doesn't hurt that Patrick is ridiculously hot. Hot and straight though.
The friendship that forms is unlikely, and even more unlikely, Patrick and Andrew find themselves faced with a chemistry they cannot deny.
Review
My Rating - 5 Stars!
Rob Browatzke's A Fluid State is a beautiful story.
Home from Afghanistan, Patrick's the typical macho, straight man who's struggling with his son Peter's clothing choices. Then he meets Andrew, a drag queen who helps Patrick understand Peter better.
I adore how supportive Patrick's ex wife is about Peter. And I'm enamored by the development of Patrick's acceptance and support. He's the perfect illustration of being uncomfortable with something one doesn't understand. As he gets to know Andrew, he slowly starts to open his eyes to why someone is femme, and that it's okay to be femme. The author expertly explores that one's clothes doesn't define them, and I love every minute.
This is a story of fear and confusion. It has some super hot first times, as Patrick has never been with a man before. And damn, there's plenty of steam.
I love the author's writing style. He treats the issue of gender fluidity with understanding and care. The dialogue is fantastic and the characters are well developed, with their feelings jumping off the page.
In the end, I find that A Fluid State is one of those books that should be read by everyone. Not necessarily for the romance, although that part is fantastic, but because it's a wonderful story of acceptance and understanding. After all, "We are what we are." Rob Browatzke excels in carrying out a tender lesson while never making it feel preachy. I can't recommend this one enough.
Excerpt
“So,” Andrew said, when they were relocated back to the couch, sitting facing each other, beers in hand.
“So.”
“First off, let me, well, set you straight on something. Kent and I aren’t dating, so don’t feel bad about that.”
“Good,” Patrick said. “I’d hate to have some gay guy come at me for hitting on his boyfriend.”
“Is that what it was? You hitting on me?”
Patrick looked away. “Honestly, I don’t know.”
“Well, what’s going on in that head of yours?”
“You,” he said. “You’re going on in my head. You and only you. Ever since we met. I thought it was all about Peter, but no, it’s about me. You’ve gotten under my skin, Andrew, and I don’t know how to get you out of me.” Their eyes locked. “And honestly, I’m not sure I want you gone.”
“But you’re straight.”
“I’ve always thought that. I’ve never been attracted to a guy before this.”
“Never? Not even in school? Some guys experiment, you know.”
“Never. I’ve looked back and there’s never been anything to make me think I’d ever be into a guy.”
“So you’re into me?”
Patrick’s face turned pink and he looked away. “I don’t know. Yes. Yes, I am.” He swallowed hard and looked back at Andrew. “Look, I know this is out of the blue, and I know what you said at the pool, and-”
“What did I say at the pool?”
“That, you know, that you’re not attracted to me.”
It was Andrew’s turn to blush and look away. “Well, since you’re being honest, I guess I should be too. Patrick, of course I’m attracted to you. You... well, look at you. I just said that to set your mind at ease. I was enjoying hanging out. I am enjoying it. I didn’t want you to freak out thinking I found you attractive or worried that I was going to try to jump you.”
“And it ended up being me that jumped at you.”
Andrew looked at him and grinned. “Seems that way.”
“So.”
“So.”
“Here we are then, both attracted to each other. What do we do now?”
About the Author
Rob Browatzke has been writing for as long as he can remember, and is pretty darn excited for someone else to be reading his stuff finally! When it comes to gay bars and booze and drugs and drama, he knows what he's talking about. He came out in the mid-90s, and liquor and drama went hand in hand. He has 20+ years of experience working in gay clubs in Edmonton, Alberta, and you’ll always find his love for his other career permeating the stories he tells. Rob is now 9+ years clean and sober, although there's still a bit of drama once in a while, for old times' sake.
Rob loves the growing market for gay fiction and m/m romance. There are some incredible authors out there, and it's important to be able to see in print (or on the screen) stories about people just like us. Coming out, our relationships, the issues we face, we all have stories to tell. And this book is just one of the stories coming out of Wonderland.
Feel free to stalk him online. He’s on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @robbrowatzke.
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