Author: J. L. Merrow
Title: Pricks and Pragmatism
Genre: Gay & Lesbian
ASIN: B00436EZGM
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
‘Easy come, easy go…until the heart gets involved.’

What I find a love the most about this is that it just feels real. Well, Luke does. He is studying at university and just as he is readying himself for his final exams get kicked out of his home. His home being the latest man he’s shacked up with. He ends up living with the friend of a friend, Russell who Luke finds, is not only far from his usual type, but not at all interested in sex. Which is normally how he pays his way. And I’ve known people to do this; I kid you not.

Of course once you get going, you realise how the story is going to go, but its an incredibly pleasant journey getting there. Luke’s journey through his feelings it touching without being gross and funny without being rude or forced. There are times when I want to slap him upside the head and others that I just want to pull him into a hug; he’s clearly that bewildered.

Merrow’s style is neatly paced, clean and he handles the plot with finesse; I am never bored or waiting for the next scene to start (or the current one to end, like some of the books I’ve read recently!). I’m also pleased at the length; I half feel that if this piece had gone on any longer, it might have drifted off the tracks into terrible lethargy, so novella was certainly a good route to go without including more of Russell in there.

Keeping the tale to Luke’s POV as well, also helped take me right to the heart of him, not getting distracted by what you guess Russell might be feeling, but Luke is still guessing at.

All in all, one I’d recommend, heartily! Its on my Illy-list!