Review: Reconnection by Michael Mandrake

Posted May 31, 2015 by Shannon in Reviews / 1 Comment

Review:  Reconnection by Michael MandrakeReconnection by Michael Mandrake
Genres: Erotica, M/M
Published by Evernight Publishing Publication Date: December 2, 2014
Pages: 37
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Find on: Goodreads
three-stars

Every once in a while, the average looking guy scores!

Robert McIntyre is a closeted, average looking sports columnist for the Daily Read. Unfortunately, his desire to stay in has cost him the chance at love more than once. However, now it seems his luck will change since his editor has asked him to interview Jake Valenta. Jake and Robert knew one another in college and when he heard from a mutual friend that Jake might be bisexual, Robert didn’t believe him.

Before Robert’s trip, they discover a mutual affection for one another. Jake shares his desire to stay behind closed doors because he can’t stand being called a fag, but desperately wants Robert to be his man.

Robert and Jake want a chance to reconnect on a more personal level, but will this budding relationship ruin their careers?

This story wasn’t bad.Β  I wish I could say more, but because it was so short, I don’t think it really got the chance to become really good.Β  I think that, if it could have been a full on book, it would have been so much better.

Basically, we have Rob, a sports writer from Chicago, who will be going to interview Jake, a baseball player in the minor leagues.Β  They knew each other in college, and they even shared a chemistry, but they didn’t really get a chance to connect.Β  Before Rob even leaves, Jake calls him and tells him that he really wants to “get to know him better”.Β  We all know what that means πŸ˜‰ When Rob gets there, Jake picks him up in a limo, and their romance begins in earnest.Β  Let me just say that I’m very happy that Rob and Jake decided to become a couple.Β  They even start the discussions about how they’re going to keep up their relationship when Jake is on the road, and Rob is back in Chicago.Β  I also liked that they didn’t have sex right away.Β  They had a nice evening date where they ate a good meal and hung out watching sports on television.Β  Even though I love hot sex scenes, that was rather refreshing.Β  Have no fear.Β  We get the (very) hot sex scene, though.Β  We just have to wait until the end.

My complaint about “Reconnection” is that both men wish to remain in the closet.Β  They worry about locker room issues.Β  Jake doesn’t want to be called a “fag” by his teammates, and Rob doesn’t want to find himself being shut out of locker rooms for interviews.Β  I tend to like the guys in my MM stories to be out and proud.Β  I know that real life doesn’t always permit that because it’s not a perfect word, but in fiction, can’t people be accepting of a gay baseball player and a gay sports writer?Β  Even though they were going to be a couple and get their (figurative) HEA, I coudln’t help but wish that, in the end, the butthead manager and the newspaper editor would have said, “Hey guys.Β  We’ve known all along, and we’re happy for you”.

That’s my two cents on this one.Β  It’s an ok story.Β  I bet it would be a GOOD book.

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I am a lover of alpha males with dirty mouths, strong heroines putting alpha males in their place, and the Chicago Blackhawks. I'm a proud hockey mom who can often be found at the hockey rink cheering on my favorite forward, with my kindle close by.
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