Title: Chiaroscuro
Author: Jenna Jones
Publisher: Torquere Press
Pages: 230
Characters: Jamie, Ben
POV: 3rd
Sub-Genre: Contemporary Romance
Kisses: 4
Blurb:
Jamie Makepeace isn’t sure what to do with his work or his love life. Laid off at his job and at odds with his ultra-conservative boyfriend, Micah, he’s searching for something to fill the empty spots.
When he meets Ben Gallagher, a cake decorator, Jamie knows he’s found a friend. Taking a chance, Jamie turns to art for his new career, and Ben becomes his muse. He creates an entire show based on the man who is always there for him. The problem with Ben is that he’s been hurt by love in the past, and might not be willing to risk his friendship with Jamie for something more.
Can Ben get past his fear and see that all that Jamie has to offer before it’s too late?
Review:
James Makepeace is a young Englishman living in San Francisco. He’s just been laid off from his job as the head of the art department of a gaming company because the company went under. He’s also just found out his much younger conservative boyfriend has been cheating on him with his college roommate. He and his best friend Dune go to a wedding where Jamie meets Ben Gallagher, the wedding cake designer/decorator who corners him in a pantry and kisses the daylights out of him.
They start seeing each other as friends with benefits with no strings attached. Jamie uses his layoff as a sign to turn his passion for art into a living. As time goes by, he finds himself falling in love with Ben but Ben keeps insisting that they are nothing but casual sex partners. Ben refuses to to be in a committed relationship because he had his heart severely broken by a former boyfriend. Jamie is introduced to the owner of an art gallery who really likes his talent and commissions him to a showing of his work. Ben shows up at the opening with another man as his date and Jaime tells him that he can’t take any more of Ben’s pushing him away and refusing to acknowledge that he loves him. Ben goes to Las Vegas to take part in a television cook-off show and realizes that when he’s all alone that he does love Jamie and that he’s willing to overcome his fear of commitment to make a life with him.
I enjoyed this story of two men who have been burned by former boyfriends and are afraid to commit to anything beyond casual sexual encounters. The ups, downs, and obstacles that Jaime and Ben go through as their relationship progresses makes for a very compelling and believable read.
Reviewed By: Patricia
