Reviewed by Susan65
Title: Solitude
Authors: Anna Martin and Tia Fielding
Heroes: Liam Barton/Gael Torres
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 214 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: August 27, 2014
Available at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: When his whirlwind life in LA became too much, Liam Barton escaped to Solitude, a Utah ski resort. Not only did Liam leave his career as a gay porn star, he said good-bye to Gael Torres, his costar at Woodspring Manor Entertainment.
Rumors run rampant that Liam is dead. But Gael doesn’t believe the gossip. Knowing something is wrong with Liam, Gael hunts him down to get his answers.
Liam is shocked when Gael turns up in Solitude and takes up residence. To Liam’s chagrin, Gael is determined to stick around to help Liam through whatever spooked him enough to run away. As Gael breaks through Liam’s armor, both men begin to realize that no matter what life throws their way, they don’t have to deal with it alone.
Review: It’s been way too long since I’ve read a good porn stars/rent boys book and this little gem was just what I needed to get my fix. I think if a porn star romance novel is written well then the readers will not have an issue with the fact that the guys are not monogamous. I have no problem with open relationships, if they are done well, and both parties agree. That is the case here. When you meet on the set of porn shoot, then you are way past complaining about your future boyfriend’s career choices. Fortunately, this story is able to show a couple who can be committed and still perform for the camera.
Yet, this relationship between Gael and Liam is a lot of work. Liam has major history that needs to be dealt with, and Gael is just the guy, with a heart of gold and the patience of saint, to do it. Liam has family drama, not on page fortunately, but the issues from his past forge the path of his future. Even by the end of the book he is not miraculously cured. This, at first, surprised me but after awhile it made sense.
Gael and Liam are both porn stars known as Gabriel and Lithium. When they first meet, Gabriel is under exclusive contract to be in a committed relationship with Johnny, another porn star, and his best friend. That is an act that they agreed would be played out even off camera. That was all fine and good until they both meet someone else and want a chance at a real relationship. Sadly, Liam takes off before that conversation can happen.
Liam is a tragic character. Even at the end of the book, my heart was broken for him. Gael was everything that he needed, plus some. I wasn’t thrilled with his rent boy activities, but I think my reasoning was similar to Gael’s in that it just isn’t safe. But, these are grown men, and they, as a couple, get to make their life choices, and we, as readers, just have to suck it up, Buttercup.
As for the style of the book, I was initially put off by the fact that each chapter was written with alternate POV’s, which isn’t an issue, but the fact that they were in two different time frames took a lot to get used to (Gael in the past, Liam in the present). Fortunately, the guys were finally on the same date around chapter five or so. Not sure why it was written that way, and it was not something I would prefer, but it didn’t take too much away from my enjoyment, especially since things were picking up once they were together. So all in all, it was great porn star/rent boy book and one I highly recommend.
Overall Impression: I really liked it
*I purchased my own, personal copy of this book for review.*
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