'Nathan Burgoine

Bold Strokes has been publishing m/m romances for a good long time now and I've been meaning to read one. I mean, I like romance and men are nice. I picked up two m/m books previously - one BSB and one non-BSB - but couldn't get into either of them. When I saw this one included nerdy gamer boys (tabletop and D&D are two of my very favorite things!!) I knew this one would be the one. And it was.

Owen is an awkward, insecure, and sweet guy who has fallen for his hunky physiotherapist. Then Bittersweets Club, April Fool's Day, and mistaken identity happens. It appears that this is part of a series but I didn't feel like I was missing out anything. The rest of the guys were there but definitely in the periphery. I really liked the novella and had a big smile on my face when I got to the last page.

Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for helping me to find the perfect m/m romance to start off with.… (mehr)

This was a re-read for me. I wanted to make sure it was still as amazing I'd remembered and worthy of sending off for a gift-exchange. I'm pretty sure nothing like this book has ever or will ever be written again. It is so unique and special. And I still get teary reading it. I kind of hate the synopsis and back cover blurb because it gives the impression that the book is more camp than it actually is.

Light is about Kieran, an out and proud gay man, who has a loving relationship with his family, friends, community, God, and himself. He's also a psychokinetic telepath. Like every other year, he takes off work for Ottawa's Pride Week, but he finds himself disappointed when Pride Week is crashed by a toxic fundamentalist religious group. Not only, are they shouting insults from the sidelines of every Pride event, they're also wielding some sort of power that allows them to slice open Pride attendees. Kieran, the good-hearted soul he is, can't stop himself from using his weak psychokinetic abilities to step in and help. How can one person save something as big as Pride though?

Light is a coming out story in that Kieran is closeted when it comes to his abilities. It's the softest sci-fi, thriller you will ever read in that Kieran remains very human as he runs toward the danger and let's us in on the science of his abilities. It's a reluctant superhero origin story in that when Kieran first uses his abilities to help people, the people of Pride turn him into one. It's a commentary on religion in that Burgoine chose to make Kieran a believer in God trying to defeat other believers in God. It's even a commentary on capitalism. But most importantly, it's really just a love letter to queer folks. I think the fact that Kieran is so clearly loved by so many people, that his love for his community both endangers him and rewards him is what makes this book truly special.

I'm so excited to pass this on to another reader!… (mehr)