4.5 stars. Fields of Gold is well-written with engaging protagonists and a fascinating storyline. To read my review in its entirety, please click HERE. ( )

Originally posted at Romance Around the Corner

Source: A review copy was provided by the author.

This book’s premise was what caught my attention: a grad student lives and takes care of his boyfriend’s apartment and in the meantime meets an organic farmer that makes him question the choices he’s made so far. Of course it’s not as simple as it sounds. The boyfriend is a married conservative politician. When Levi meets Pete and their attraction flares, he realizes that his life is a mess. But he’s also afraid to lose the comfort that his lover represents, so at first he resists Pete’s advances. It’s not until things get even more complicated that he decides to take action and change his life.

I liked Fields of Gold. The story was original and the characters likeable -- at least Avi and Pete were. It’s a straightforward book about a guy who isn't satisfied with his life, and some external circumstances force him into doing something about it. In the end, he works to get there, but the decision doesn't come from introspection. His advisor tells him that he will lose his teaching position if he doesn't finish his thesis soon; Pete comes to his life and that’s when he realizes he’s not happy with his current relationship; the politician develops a nasty case of aggressiveness, so that’s when Avi finds the balls to call it quits; and overall he just needs help to figure out what’s wrong with him and how to fix it. It was authentic, because not everyone grows by their own means, but his inability to act wasn't a character trait I appreciate in a romance hero. However, this is an author who has a knack for make me like characters that work hard to be unlikeable.


I think the book’s biggest problem was its length, and this is an issue that keeps hurting Ms. Bentham’s work. The characters and stories have interesting issues but they are too ambitious for such short books and end up looking underdeveloped. The potential is there, but I wish we had seen a more in-depth exploration. It all happens to easily and everything happens to Avi. His passiveness keeps bothering me and as much as I enjoyed the story —because I did, it doesn't sound like it, but I did—I keep getting back to the same conclusion: he was passive.

The love story was sweet and romantic. Pete was a wonderful hero, although his role is secondary. The story is told from Avi’s POV and we don’t get to see into Pete’s head, but I didn't feel like I was missing something because he was open and honest. I believe in their happy ending and I’m happy they found each other.

Another aspect I loved was that Levi was Jewish. His religion doesn't really play a role in the story, but I like to see some diversity. And overall I enjoyed the story, flaws and all. I think if you’re a fan of the author, you will like it. But if her books haven’t worked for you before, chances are this won’t work either because it suffers from the same issues her previous books had.

It gets a recommendation from me, even though there’s much room for improvement. This is an author whose voice and stories I really enjoy. ( )

I had the feeling for this novel to be more dark and less romantic, and I’m glad to say I was wrong.

Avi is an History graduate student, and like most of them he is broken; when Jack, a closeted politician, offered him free rent in exchange of “safe” sex, Avi didn’t see a reason to refuse: Jack is not bad to the eyes, and he is mostly away; the fact he is married with children was not a problem, Avi is not in love with Jack, and though he is not jealous at all. If I have to be true, I didn’t like much Avi, above all I didn’t like his uptight attitude, especially on regard of Isaac, his former hustler best-friend: when Isaac tells him he understands they have to do what they have to survive, Avi looks upon him like selling his body to one known man is so much different to selling it to many strangers… maybe it’s, but Avi has no room to be on the judgment stall.

Anyway Avi meets Pete at the local farmer’s market. Pete is genuine like the produce he is selling, and in a way Avi is sincere with him, Pete knows Avi is involved with someone else when they start their story. Everything happens really fast and indeed they don’t really know each other, the main reason why they will arrive to a point where a misunderstanding could be fatal to their story.

I was dreading this plot, especially since I wasn’t expecting to like the duality of Avi, not really understanding how he could manage making love to Pete while having sex with Jack. Lucky me the author probably shares my old notion of romance, and she managed this situation in a pretty good way, not giving me any chance to be disappointed.

I also like that the happily ever after is not “easy”, and both Avi than Pete have still a lot of trouble to face in their day-to-day lives, but at least from the love side they are covered. If the author will decide to visit again these men (or Isaac and Nathan), maybe we will have a chance to see how Avi and Pete will manage.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009954ILO/?tag=elimyrevandra-20