2.5 Stars

Didn't really see the "romance" part of the relationship or why they ever got together... well except lust. And the thing with Luis, the kid... why wouldn't you just let the Sheriff handle it? ( )

Idaho Pride by Sarah Black may especially appeal to readers who love to look beyond the parameters of a hot man-to-man romance and get a bigger view of the unique way in which the gay man fits into his community. Protagonist Lee finds that he must adjust his comfortable life to make room for a romance with his new neighbor, a gay activist, but that’s only the beginning. He soon realizes that his understated attitude towards his own sexuality borders on denial, especially when he unexpectedly gains a surrogate son to mentor, troubled gay teenager Luis.

This novella offers the readers many delights, including a down-to-earth and specific setting in Boise, Idaho. The characters are strong and complex with standouts in Luis, the tragic police captain McClain, and the volatile hockey player Almarr. I found Lee’s love interest Jeremy to be somewhat bland, but there is so much story going on between Lee and Luis that it more than compensates.

The story opens with sportswriter Lee hanging out at a coffee shop with players from the Idaho Steelheads minor league hockey team. New neighbor Jeremy comes in with his adoring interns to distribute copies of his new gay magazine Idaho Pride, and trouble breaks out between the hockey players and the interns. As a result, Lee and Jeremy get hauled before Captain McClain and sentenced to a community service project involving tidying up a local cemetery, which soon reveals McClain’s tragic secret. Meanwhile, Lee starts mentoring one of Jeremy’s interns, troubled teen Luis, on a writing project about legendary gay athlete Greg Louganis. This is a well-written story centering on the bonds of friendship, love, and responsibility between appealing gay characters.

Val for AReCafe ( )