This is my first official review! I've chosen Caught Running by Madeleine Urban and Abigail Roux, published by Dreamspinner Press and available here
Brandon and Jake are both currently teaching at the same high school they both attended. Brandon, a "nerd" in his school days is a science teacher while Jake, the former "jock" teaches P.E. and coaches a variety of sports. They don't interact a whole lot, until Brandon is roped into being an assistant baseball coach. As the two of them spend more time together, each man realizes that the other doesn't quite fit the stereotype assigned to him in high school.
I was drawn to this book because one of the main characters, Brandon, is a distance runner, which I am too. This is just one of the ways that the authors flesh out his character and make him more than just the cliche science nerd. He's actually a well-rounded man, dedicated to his students, and in great shape physically. Likewise, Jake is far from a dumb jock, even though he sometimes exploits and encourages that facet of his personality. I really liked watching the characters take shape and move beyond the expected. Both men have dealt with some painful issues in the past, nothing horrific, but both of their lives have turned out differently from what they expected as teenaged students. Though they were never friends as kids, they discover that they enjoy each other's company and their newly found friendship gradually develops into more. I liked the way each character supported the other when he needed it, and when they finally get there their physical relationship is the perfect mix of raw passion and intimacy. I found the sex very nicely done: hot but tasteful, with just the right amount of emotion.
I had a slight problem with the pacing of the book. It takes over a hundred pages before these two men, who are obviously attracted to each other, even kiss. I can appreciate that they want to tread carefully as they are co-workers, but after a while it frustrated me a little. Dozens of times both Brandon and Jake would think "I'm crazy for feeling this way," or "there's no way he feels the same." After the third or fourth time, I wanted to scream at them! Like I said, I can understand some trepidation, but it got to be a little bit too much. Though they are both successful gay men in their thirties, they reminded me of teenagers at times. After they finally hook up, the characterization is excellent and a real delight to witness. I just felt like they could have gotten there a little sooner, not by page three or anything, just a little sooner than page one hundred. That said, the second half of the book is really great as Brandon and Jake test and explore their relationship, in and out of the bedroom. The way they grow to understand and support one another is very realistic and touching.
Overall, a good, solid book with realistic characters that I could relate to and care about. Definitely worth checking out, as long as you can be patient.
~De.
