Button Down by Dawn Kimberly Johnson

18885712Title: Button Down

Series:   N/A

Author: Dawn Kimberly Johnson

Genre: Contemporary

Length:  Novel (222 pages)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (December 23rd, 2013)

Heat:  Moderate

Heart: ♥♥♥♥3.5Hearts

Reviewer: Eli/Mandingo

Blurb:  When he finds himself captivated by a movie-star handsome stranger he meets in a bar, lawyer Ford Reilly watches a simple one-night stand develop into a taste of what living honestly might bring him. 

Out and proud Gus Hansen has built a small architectural firm from nothing, but could lose it all as he tries to break a contract he signed before knowing about the project’s antigay ties. 

After Ford discovers he spent a passionate night with the man on the other side of the dispute he’s handling, he finds himself in more than one quandary. He can either maintain the status quo, enforcing the contract to the letter, or he can defy his overbearing father and break free of the closeted life he’s built for himself in order to be with Gus. 

Gus has his own choices to make. He knows the sting of loving a man who hides himself, but the longer he lingers in Ford’s presence, the more difficult it becomes to deny their attraction.

Purchase Link:   http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4468

Review: Being a black man means living in a prejudiced sub culture.  This is Ford’s reality.  His antithesis is Gus Hansen, a man who has just emerged from heartbreak.  Button Down is the story of how a closeted black gay man and an out and proud white man can come together. Often a story tells a tale from one either the point of the protagonist or the antagonist. This story is told from both sides.  When the reader experiences the story from Ford’s perspective, they see Gus as the man who will allow Ford to come into his own and become comfortable as a gay man. When the story is told from Gus’ perspective, the reader sees a man who is comfortable in his skin, but who needs the additional love and loyalty of the family, which Ford can provide for him.

The men find their HEA in a spectacular manner and Ford is able to come out and be true to himself and his family.  In doing so, Gus will gain more family, a home and a man to call his own.  The secondary characters in this book are as critical to the HEA of Ford and Gus as a duck is to water.  This story could not have been told without Gus’ best friend or Ford’s family.  They provide the backdrop and provide color and depth for the story.  The underlying political commentary in the story is also timely and well placed.  Homophobia is rampant in the African-American community and this story takes the prejudice head on and cuts a wide swath by discussing not only homophobia, but also the other white elephant with the interracial pairing of both Gus and Ford.

The story is well written, well paced with multi-faceted characters who we can identify with and whom we learn to love.  We root for Gus and Ford to be happy.  Well worth the read.