Acting Up by John Inman

Dreamspinner Press Link

Amazon Link

Goodreads Link

Blurb

It’s not easy breaking into show biz. Especially when you aren’t exactly loaded with talent. But Malcolm Fox won’t let a little thing like that hold him back.

Actually, it isn’t the show-business part of his life that bothers him as much as the romantic part—or the lack thereof. At twenty-six, Malcolm has never been in love. He lives in San Diego with his roommate, Beth, another struggling actor, and each of them is just as unsuccessful as the other. While Malcolm toddles off to this audition and that, he ponders the lack of excitement in his life. The lack of purpose. The lack of a man.

Then Beth’s brother moves in.

Freshly imported from Missouri of all places, Cory Williams is a towering hunk of muscles and innocence, and Malcolm is gobsmacked by the sexiness of his new roomie from the start. When infatuation enters the picture, Malcolm knows he’s really in trouble. After all, Cory is straight!

At least, that’s the general consensus.

Cover Artist: Reese Dante

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

I enjoyed every second of John Inman's Acting Up, as it's sweet and perfectly entertaining.

Malcolm has a fantastic sense of humor and kept me laughing throughout. He and his roommate Beth are just a great combination of great friends, banter, and wit. Then Cory moves in, and they were so much fun together. 

This book has a whole of laughs and romance, mixed in with some serious moments. The combination is expertly executed. I mean seriously, the pets had me in stitches and the whole moment of the mattress had me giggling.

Cory's sexuality is handled in a charming, tender and genuine manner. It definitely has it's share of serious moments that are emotional.

Overall, Acting Up was the perfect mix of flirting, humor, and charm for me. It is a wonderful feel-good romance that I look forward to re-reading.

Strays and Lovers by John Inman

Dreamspinner Press Link

Amazon Link

Goodreads Link

Blurb

Forty-six-year-old Eddie Hightower has a problem. He’s all alone. The only thing that saves him from facing that stark reality is the fact that he isn’t really alone at all. He has a house full of pets and a refuge full of stray unwanted animals he spends every waking hour trying to place in homes. While he loves what he does with all the joy in his heart, that same poor aging heart is still missing something. And Eddie knows exactly what it is. Romance.

But wait. Cue the music. Suddenly, beyond all hope, it happens. In the small desert town of Spangle, California, where Eddie lives, comes a sad young stranger with piercing gray eyes. They are the palest, most stunningly beautiful eyes Eddie has ever seen. Poor Eddie Hightower is swallowed up in their silver depths and disappears without a gurgle. The stranger’s name is Gray Grissom. Gray, like his eyes. Without hesitation Eddie opens his doors—and his heart—to the lost young man. After all, that’s what Eddie does. He finds homes for strays. But this is one stray Eddie intends to keep for himself.

Review 

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Strays and Lovers is a good May to December romance by John Inman. It just so happens to include a whole lot of animals too.

Eddie, who's closer to 50 than to 40, runs an animal refugee. Gray meanwhile, is 20 years his junior, but he certainly helps Eddie to feel less lonely.

When they first meet, Eddie can easily see the sadness in Gray. He's ashamed and embarrassed by his past, full of pain and fear. He's definitely a survivor, he just doesn't realize this.

Eddie and Gray are two men who are definitely better off together than alone. Each man fills a hole in the other's life and heart.

I found the story to start off with a slow start. But, soon the pace and the story picked up. It is most definitely a relationship-driven story. 

Strays and Lovers has an ending that's super sweet, and you can just feel the love jumping off the pages.