C.K. AlexanderRezensionen

2.5 Stars

Some editing issues.

An interesting read about celebrities and secrets.
Nothing really sexy about the book but, I liked that it talked about real people and real feelings.

This is something like the second or third gay erotic book that I have attempted, going in knowing that it was a gay erotic book. I read it to read the requirements of a challenge, specifically to read books with erotic themes from the fifty states. Montana hadn't been covered, yet, so I looked around and felt adventurous enough to attempt another gay erotic book. I’m going in on the story while knowing that I normally do not find romances between two men to be, personally to me, that enjoyable.

So . . .. A newly minted doctor has a massive education debt to repay. Looks around. Spots a job over in rural Montana which will greatly help him pay much off his debt. So, mostly sight unseen, he accepts the job, finds a place to live while there, and then packs up to move. The short book opens with the good doctor packing up in New England. Ready for his trip to Montana.

Somewhat randomly, like throwing darts randomly, he buys a pick-up truck. Whereupon he almost promptly gets a flat tire. While trying to figure out how to fix it, a park ranger pulls up and offers to help. So, the damsel in distress in this situation is a dude. Being helped by another dude. Both of whom thinks that the other is quite handsome. It's interesting and somewhat refreshing to see both that the person in distress isn't a woman, like it almost always seems to be, and that the man in trouble is willing to accept help. This almost never seems to be the case.

So, there's one potential love interest meet almost immediately. The half-Cheyenne park ranger. Who isn't out as being gay. Later Dr. Adrian Cook, the doctor guy who I haven't actually named yet, gets to his new place of employment. Meets up with his boss. Another guy who appears to be quite attractive and is giving off gay vibrations. Another potential love interest, and another one who isn't out about who he is. There's mention of a lesbian worker at the hospital, not meet in the story, and a gay nurse, meet but much later. So, this small town of 5,162 in Montana has a lot of gay people.

So, the romance between Dr. Cook and Randall Banks, the park ranger, progressed nicely. With fishing and stuff. Then immediately hits a snag when Dr. Cook decides to go for a jog when the park ranger heads off to work. Only to spot said park ranger with his head bouncing up and down over another man in a car off the hiking trail. And so . . ..

There's an interesting bit of love triangle, blackmail, humans being humans, and the like going on. I like how one of the characters is out and out bisexual. The idea that such a critter can exist. Of course, in this specific situation, that little bit of detail causes a great deal of trouble.

Well, I'll depart with this thought: There's a good story here. Good character build up, and some interesting side stories, but . . . all the buildup kind of built up to . . . everything being wrapped up in a few words instead of actually writing what happened. Docked a star or half for that. Probably half star.

Shane is a bullfighter with the rodeo. He is also gay but keeps it quiet since he would have a hard time on the rodeo circuit. Within two days though he meets two men that could make him change his mind in C. K. Alexander’s EIGHT SECOND AFFAIR. Veterinarian Cooper James is quiet but Shane senses interest on Cooper’s part. Bull rider Jack McDonough from Australia joins the rodeo circuit and is open in his appreciation of Shane. With sponsorships and big purses coming up Jack wants to do well but something is happening to the bulls. They are going crazy and hurting the bull riders who end up hospitalized and off the circuit. Shane suspects someone is cheating but who? The cowboys who are in the lead are the ones being hurt. Shane finds a syringe after Jack finishes a ride. Is it him? How can Shane be sure?

EIGHT SECOND AFFAIR was a good read. It went quickly in the time line, basically two weeks. There is a lot of rodeo action that is realistic. The characters are likable and easy to relate to as I read. I liked the triangle of Shane, Cooper, and Jack. I wondered how it would turn out but I am not sure I liked how it turned out. It was too neatly wrapped up and I would have liked more conflict within the triangle with a different outcome. Unfortunately EIGHT SECOND AFFAIR was too short to work on both the relationship and the mystery of the cheating and hurting of the bulls. That mystery was easily solved. I liked that junior bull riders were shown with their hero worship. Tripp, one of them, was great as he spies behind the scenes.

This will not be the last time I read C. K. Alexander. I liked what I have seen here and plan to read more.

was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review. I started the book and couldn't put it down! This is a story of a bullfighter, Shane. who is not only getting to the age of retiring from the circuit but also also has been trying to find love. It is always hard to find love but what if you were in the circuit and gay?? When he meets a younger bull rider, Jack, and falls in love he accuses him of hurting the bulls.
Is the rider to blame for all the bulls shenanigans? Or is it the New traveling vet or another rider? Will Shane be able to keep Jack as a lover or will he leave him behind?

Great story it flows and characters are well defined!

Life on a rodeo circuit isn’t easy for a gay bullfighter.

Shane Galloway is tired of one night stands and being the third wheel to the couple that raised him. Although Whittaker and Linda love him, he desperately wants to find someone to call his own. Finding love is hard enough for anyone, but for a gay man on a rodeo circuit, it’s been impossible.

Everything changes for Shane when two handsome men stroll into his life. Cooper, the new vet, and Jack, an Aussie bull rider, couldn’t be more different, but Shane finds himself attracted to both. Things become heated after Jack partners up with Shane to share expenses on the road.

With love, hate, mystery, and scandal, this book is the whole package. The sex scenes were tasteful but steamy, and the setting was described intelligently. This is the first gay romance I’ve ever read and I have to say that it was well worth my time.

My first thought as I started this book was "I wish I knew more about rodeos." That kind of knowledge is not required in order to enjoy this book, but I am sure it would help.

The story told in this book is touching. I just wish it had been fleshed out more. Shane and Jack meet and fall in love within a few days. The whole book covers about a week. I would have liked it more if there was more meat to the story. Take more time for them to fall in love. Explore the relationship between Whittaker and Linda. Delve more into Cooper's past. There is enough material here to make a stew, but all we are given is the broth.

The author's style is well developed. The story flows well. Events are well described, and it easy to visualize what is happening. I will likely pick up more books by this author.

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.