The Playwright by Carolyn LeVine Topal

Title: The Playwright

Series: The Male Room 03

Author: Carolyn LeVine Topol

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novella

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (August 30, 2011)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥ 4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb:  Nick’s writing partner and best friend is tired of watching his buddy screw his life away to overcome the heartbreak of his first great love affair, and he also thinks that a romantic comedy playwright should actually write what he knows!  Before Nick can wriggle out of it, he finds himself begged, nagged, and cajoled into a coffee date with one of the men who liked his profile at The Male Room, an online dating service for gay men.

No one is more surprised than Nick that the date is a success, and he’s interested in getting to know full-time news reporter and part-time theater critic Mark better. But better means closer, and the closer Nick gets to Mark, the more he remembers why he doesn’t go for long-term relationships. Long term affairs just lead to heartbreak, right? Nick’s imagination runs overtime, and he’ll have to trust in his heart if he wants this love story to have a happy ending.

Review:  This is a quick moving story and not quite insta love but close. Nick is dumped in at the deep end by his best friend and writing partner Ken, Ken in his infinite wisdom has signed Nick up to a dating website. Nick agrees to a date with one of the men and meets Mark, who seems too good to be true.

Nick panics as he fears falling in love again and especially so quickly. Mark is determined to at least make a go of it and it doesn’t take long to convince Nick.

This is a great feel good story and I loved the characters and even though they fall in love quickly, they don’t jump into bed too quickly and it’s a while before they even broach moving in together. I highly recommend this one.