Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #79802 in Books
• Published on: 2009-07-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 216 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781605043197
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Customer Reviews

HANDYMAN by Claire Thompson
I actually like this storyline: wealthy businessman falls in love with the hot tradesman working on his house/car/garden/etc. It's a cliché and it's not quite realistic, but it's a fun fantasy nevertheless.

Handyman has its flaws, but overall it's a very nice story. Will is sexy and confident. He's never had a serious relationship and has always been hesitant to settle down, and he doesn't know quite what to make of his feelings for deeply-closeted Jack. Jack is strong, honest, and uncertain about his sexuality. He's been mourning the loss of his wife for two years and wonders if he might finally be ready for a new start.

This story has some good angst. It's interesting to see the emotions at play between Will and Jack, and within each man individually. I'm a big fan of shy, tentative touches and "so wrong but feels so good" loveplay, and Claire Thompson writes those scenes very well. The love scenes are steamy and emotional, and the chemistry between the two men sizzles.

I also enjoyed the scenes between Jack and his two sons. Ms. Thompson deals with grief and the emotions of "coming out" very well.

I have two major problems with this book that dragged the rating down from an A to a B-. First of all, this book is incredibly dialogue heavy. The men talk and talk and talk some more. I don't even know any girls who talk that much. The dialogue became exhausting after a while. The narrative was just as tedious as the dialogue. There are literally pages of flashback tossed into the middle of a scene. It's very jarring to be in the middle of a conversation or a sex scene one minute, then suddenly flash back twenty years. It gave me whiplash and broke the flow of what could have been a truly wonderful story.

My second problem with this book is the experience on which Jack bases his "I must be gay" acceptance. There's really no way to describe it in detail without giving spoilers, but it just wasn't convincing to me.

Overall, this is a good story. I've been told many times that I'm a tough critic when it comes to m/m romance, so I understand that most other female readers will probably give this a higher grade than I did. Gay male readers may grade it more harshly. For me, this story would get an A for concept, but only a B- for execution.

A slow, sweet seduction
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.

Rating: 9/10

PROS:
- The way in which Jack slowly opens up to Will's hints and advances is beautifully done. I know a man who didn't face his homosexuality until he was in his 50s whose awakening proceeded in almost exactly the same way as Jack's does in this book.
- Good examination of the internal uncertainty on the part of both characters; Will thinks Jack will decide he's straight (or at least that he doesn't want to explore whether or not he's really gay), and Jack thinks that Will's just looking for another notch on his belt. Of course, we readers have the benefit of witnessing their blossoming I-don't-trust-this-but-I-can't-help-falling-for-him-anyway feelings also.
- The buildup of feelings and desire on the way to the characters' first sexual encounter is very well done. Each scene is a bit more erotic and a bit less tentative than the last. And I LOVE how patient Will is with Jack's hesitance and inexperience.
- The sex, when we finally get to it (not a complaint; I love the slow speed at which physical intimacy escalates), is sensual and explosive and delightful. And there's a kissing scene that's almost as hot as any of the sex scenes.
- Jack's sons are realistically portrayed and add a nice amount of gravity.
- Far fewer typos and editing issues in this than in many other m/m books I've read.

CON:
- Premise that's a stretch to believe. The difference in age is significant--14 years--as is the difference in lifestyle, education, and emotional background. But I must say, I loved the characters so much that after a few chapters, I happily allowed myself to dismiss any misgivings about the story idea.

Overall comments: If you're looking for erotica, this might not be a good choice for you; there's sexual tension throughout the book, but it doesn't really contain that much sex (as compared to most other m/m romances I've read). But if you enjoy reading about the emotional connection between two men with an occasional hot sex scene thrown in here and there, this is a lovely read.

A Fun Fantasy
Thompson, Claire. "Handyman", Samhain Publishing, 2009.

A Fun Fantasy

Amos Lassen


"Handyman" is not a new story--it's that old tired plot of wealth executive falls in love with a handyman who has never considered being gay. So why do we have the same old story again? It's not a realistic story and it is clichéd but Claire Thompson makes it fun.
Will Spencer was accustomed to having who he wanted when he wanted and then he met Jack Crawford, a recently widowed handyman who never though of himself as gay. Suddenly Jack is forces to confront new feelings and in doing so puts Will in a position of having to think about love. Will has never had a serious relationship and really never wanted to settle down but he does not know how to deal with his feelings for Jack. Jack is a strong and honest man who is not sure about his sexuality and herein lays the emotions into which the reader is swept.
One of the problems I had here is the amount of dialog. The two guys talk all of the time and this made the whole book seem to be heavy and somewhat tedious.
One would expect this to be an erotic novel but it is more of a romance. There are some really touching scenes here but as I said earlier, there is not a lot new. There is a great deal of sexual tension but not a lot of sex. This is a book that deals with emotions more than anything else. The age gap between the man was also not convincing with Jack being 44 to Will's 30. Granted there is not that much difference but Jack also has two sons and has been married and that certainly adds years. Nevertheless. It's a light and easy read.