Passion by M.L. Rhodes

This is a spin off story from a previous book by the same author, The Elf and the Shoemaker. Robert is the customer who bough the little bottle of passion oil in Logan's shop, but Passion is not a fantasy tale like the other one.

Robert is a forty years old successful business man who starts to realize that he has nothing of really serious in his life. Truth, he has his multi-millionaire business, a beautiful home and a sporty car, but he is alone. He has even tried to make a move on Logan, but we read in the previous book that the man just started his relationship with the elf, and so he brushed off Robert, even if in a gentle way. Actually I was quite sad for Robert since he was a really sweet guy. One of the most interesting scene in the book, is reading the same scene again, this time from Robert's point of view. Robert bought also one of the magic bottle of Passion oil, and after using a bit of it on himself, he goes to his usual friday pub, and as always he is pining after Jesse, the handsome bartender. Jesse has never left Robert believe that he could be interested, and actually Robert thinks the man to be straight. But this night the weather helps him and conjures to make them spend more time together.

Robert confirms to be a sweet guy, not at all the cold businessman; there is no actually any drama in his past life if not unfortunately the usual rejection from a too strict family, but probably Robert spent too time building his firm and not enough caring for his personal life. Now he is in that moment of his life when, if he doesn't do something really soon, he could end with a lonely, even if comfortable, old age... and he doesn't want that. But Robert is not desperate, he is not willing to pick up the first man only to fill a void in his life.

On the other hand Jesse is recovering from a tragic past and from a sense of guilty that is eating him alive. But he has eyes, and he saw Robert from the first time he entered the pub; and now months after maybe his sense of guilty is a little dumped down, and he is ready to let the man nearer than before. But Jesse, even if obviously the stronger in body, and probably the leading man in the relationship, is also skittish like a wild horse, and maybe Robert, with his quite aplomb and his serene behavior is the right man to approach him.

I like the story, even if it's not so long, neither in page or time: it spans only some hours in Robert and Jesse's life, but they are intense hours, and overall, it's a real romantic story.

Satisfaction by M.L. Rhodes

Satisfaction continues where Passion ended: Jesse and Robert, five months later are living together, but unfortunately it's not exactly an happily ever after. Satisfaction is a clear example of a romance where reality makes its appearance: love not always is the answer to all the questions.

And so, even if he is in love with Jesse, Robert is not ready to change completely his life. As before, his work, his business, seems the more important thing in his life rather than his lover. Robert is often out of town, and Jesse is regretting the choice to move in with him: as he said at one point, at least before he was living with a girl best friend, and if he was alone at night, it was his own choice; plus he hadn't had the chance to savour a different life, one shared with a loved one, and so he didn't miss it. Now being alone is even worst, since Jesse knows that he loves Robert, and would like to be with him always and forever. But as I said before, love is not the only answer.

The author chooses to give a reason more for Robert's unrequited behaviour, not only the abandonment from his family. Robert is avoiding staying put too long in a place since he fears to loose it; not having strong bond with something, makes it easier to renounce to it when he will loose it. Even if not consciously, Robert is not convinced that his love story with Jesse will last, and so he is avoiding getting "comfortable" with it.

On the other hand, Jesse has quite a lot of reason to be upset, but, truth be told, sometime I think that he should be more supporting of Robert. It's not like they are living together for years and Robert has always deserted him; it's only five months, and Robert is asking a delay only since the economy is risky. True, Robert is asking that having a hidden agenda, an agenda that maybe he doesn't even realize to have, but neither Jesse. I think that, in this case, the difference in age between Robert and Jesse is quite clear; Jesse has not yet fully developed an emotional independence that allows him to be sure of Robert's love.

Anyway, Satisfaction is a good dose of reality on the big romance that was Passion, but it's not too much to ruin the romance itself, it only helps it to be more near to the ordinary lives of the readers, where not all is love and flowers.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1602728747/?tag=elimyrevandra-20