Title: Gambling Men
Author Name & Publisher: Amy Lane (Dreamspinner Press)
Publication Date & Length: May 7, 2012 – 220 pgs
Quent Jackson has followed Jason Spade’s every move in business and in poker since their first day as college freshmen. Eight years later, when Jace finally decides Quent is the one man he can’t live without, he sees no reason for that to change.
But as much as Jace believes that poker is life, no one gave Quent the same playbook. After their first passionate night, the real game of love and trust begins, and Jace has been playing alone too long to make teaching the rules easy. Jace only speaks two languages: one of them is sex, and the other one is poker. Between the two, he needs to find a way to convince himself to take a chance on love—and Quent to take a chance on him. It’s a lucky thing they’re good at reading the odds, because they’re playing for keeps, and this is one high-stakes relationship that’s definitely worth the gamble.
I have to say that I have never read a book that had so many puns in it as this one does but that is what really makes this book so special.
Jace and Quentin have known each other since college. From the moment they met and became roommates they have been inseparable. They. Are best friends but even as best friends they do not know everything about each other.
Being best friends like they are they pretty much do everything together. They go to the gym together, they play poker together, they went into business together and now Jace wants to take it a step further and throw all his cards on the table…..he wants Quentin to be his also.
It is not always easy between the two of them because Quentin has to deal with being in a relationship with a man for he first time and Jace has to deal with his insecurities of ending up alone or losing Quentin but they deal with their issues tougher and keep coming out stronger because of it.
This book was such an enjoyable read. There was some serious parts in it but for the most part these two men was just fun to read about, puns and all. Amy Lane has a real winner on her hands win this book. Such a great, fun read.
Tosha
I am so conflicted about this book. On one hand, this is Amy Lane with another one of her perfectly matched pairs, a story full of kismet, that gooey feel-good factor and some pretty hot sex. It’s a slow build friends to lovers story, a natural feeling gay-for-you and it ticks so many right boxes. On the other hand, I’ve learned that as much as I’m not a poker fan, I’m really, really not a fan of men who talk in poker metaphors or narration full of poker references and vocabulary. Sex described through poker metaphors just invites flashbacks from very, very bad dating decisions.
So. I’m going to leave this review brief and let other readers decide. I can’t resist an Amy Lane love story but I should have read the blurb closer before requesting this book. Neither of these men does much for me and I would have known as much if I hadn’t been distracted by the immediate visceral reaction I have when I spot a new book with Amy Lane’s name on the front.
Poker fans and those who can look a man in the eye when he attempts sports metaphors in bed will enjoy this. I’m sure everyone else has another favourite Amy Lane story they can re-read instead.
Sarah