Nora Phoenix

I progressed to this novel after reading my first Nora Phoenix with New Daddy at Forty-Seven.

To call Coming Out on Top an "age-gap" romance is too simple and misleading, putting the emphasis on an element that hardly matters. The difference between the MCs is in experience - they are each experienced in diametrically opposed ways. And the path taken in the novel is how they bring that experience to each other.

An impulsive young man, Quentin, takes a shine to a gentle giant, Mac, who rescues him in a snow storm in a small town in New York.

Mac is an outcast for various murky reasons, and because he has a severe stutter, which the townsfolk interpret as his being "slow".

The audiobook blurb says "Quentin is searching for ... something. Respect. Answers. His identity." But these things take a backseat to the near-instant sexy romance between the MCs.

Narrator Kenneth Obi hasn't crossed my path before, but he has a great touch with this novel, and not sure I would have got into this novel if his reading hadn't made the most of it.… (mais)

I took a reader's advice and started with #2 in the series. I was aware that some valuable background was skipped but I was also glad that I'd missed the angst, which I can see had led up to this point.

By the time of #2 in what the publisher calls a duology - a word I have learned only recently, Benoni and Kinsey are there for each other and beginning their relationship adventure, which takes turns surprising to them both.

The younger man, Benoni, eases into a daddy role when it becomes clear that this suits Kinsey. It's strange and beautiful to them both.

I can't get over how the romance genre is so open minded and tolerant and has its values in the right place ... in my books!

It was good to hear narrator John Solo again.… (mais)

Tiago, along with his twin Tomas, come home for their school's reunion. Both left their hometown at 18 to become models and have done with their careers. Tiago has not been happy with modeling recently and is looking for something else. Cas is the town's handyman. He is a newcomer to the town. When the two men meet, they are attracted but Cas does not think anything will come of it. They do meet for a hot night and continue to see each other. Cas mentions the doctor's house is for sale and Tiago wants to see it remembering it from his teen years. When Tiago sees it, he decides to buy it. He hires Cas to do the remodeling. Cas has a rule of nothing personal with his clients, so he and Tiago go back to the friend zone. Will that change? Will Tiago be able to settle down in the small town again after seeing the world? Will Cas be an important person in Tiago's life or is he just a fling?

I enjoyed this book. I loved Tiago and Cas. Cas is a caregiver. I loved how he goes to help his sister when she needs help. He senses something with Tiago and slowly learns the best way to communicate with him. Tiago wants to learn how to be a homeowner. Tomas is not happy that Tiago is making decisions without his input. Cas advises but lets Tiago make the decisions for the house. Eventually paparazzi arrive in town, and I loved how the town circles 'round the wagons for Cas and Tiago. I also loved Tiago's story for the townspeople to tell the paparazzi. I could feel how hard it was for the two men to talk about their feelings, but I was glad when it came to a head and Cas had to let Tiago know he was not comfortable with what was happening. Truths then come out. I loved it!

I look forward to reading the rest of the series.… (mais)