Title: Hollywood Gothic
Author: Sawyer Caine
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: Novel (199 pages)
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books (November 16th 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate/ Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts
Blurb: Ash Langdon, a jaded, thirty-four-year-old porn star, falls in love with Gavin Dimitrije, the younger brother of his best friend, Oliver, a famous movie star, to whom Ash is mysteriously bound. Despite the misgivings of Oliver, Ash and Gavin embark on a whirlwind of sex, drugs, alcohol, and decadence in the Big Easy, that threatens to destroy the protective bubble of lies they live in.
Product Link(s): http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com/9781626393226E.html
Reviewer: Tams
Review: They say you never forget your first love, especially if that love still holds an uneasy sway over you. Ah but then there is that one true love you find, not necessarily always your first love. Aging gay porn star Ash Langdon has found both in the Armenian born brothers, Oliver and Gavin Dimitrije. Best friends for what seems like a lifetime, Oliver and Ash are joined at the hip.
But there is something off about their relationship, something most people don’t pick up on. Oliver is very protective of the people in his life, but none more so than his little brother Gavin. Oliver was Ash’s first love, while Gavin is the one Ash is meant to spend his life with, if the secrets of the past don’t tear them all apart and destroy what is left of Ash’s soul.
Oliver is touring Europe for his latest film, he leaves his dear little brother in the care of his best friend, not realizing how events will unfold that will change all their lives irrevocably. Ash has always been aware of Gavin in erotic way, but he’s never acted on the attraction for fear of how it would affect his friendship with Oliver. Thrown into close quarters with the sexy young man while on vacation in New Orleans proves to be more of a temptation than either man can resist, but the true nature of Oliver and Ash’s relationship is a huge roadblock for Gavin and any hope he has of a long term relationship with Ash.
There was a dark and mysterious undertone to this story as I tried to figure out why Oliver made me so uneasy. Then there was the romance aspect as Gavin set his sights on Ash as the two made their way around the French Quarter filling their nights with lots of hot, steamy, sweaty sex while their days were compiled of actual tourist attractions. But the core of this story is about Ash figuring out who he is when Oliver has no hold over him anymore.
I wouldn’t say I had unanswered questions when I finished this book like some of the other reviews have stated, for me it was more of a which of these things is not like the other overall issue with certain twists or aspects of the story. Why, if Oliver were so over the top protective of his little brother, would he send him off to New Orleans with his gay porn star best friend? Why does the initial meet cute of the story between Ash and Gavin come across as basic strangers meeting for the first time, but the story unfolds as they have both been enamored with each other for years and just never acted on it.
Overall, though I loved the no holds barred passion of the affair between Ash and Gavin and how they truly loved each other faults and strengths and sort of saved each other. I always had an uneasy feeling about the truth behind Oliver and Ash’s history, but I thought that was written just the right way, dangling that morsel and planting the seed that slowly grew throughout the story and then presented itself at just the right time. It added a bit of intrigue and suspense to the story in my opinion.
I’d recommend this read for anyone that likes something just a little dark, just a little intriguing, and a whole lot sex and passion. It does read like an insta-love story, so be warned about that.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *