Title: The Clown and the Magician
Author: Rebecca Lynne Fullan
Genre: Contemporary
Publisher: Dreamspinner
Length: Novelette
Reviewer: Portia
Blurb: Bernard Stevens, a dedicated clown, accepts a job at Send in the Clowns entertainment agency and learns that their corporate policy is anything but funny. In spite of the stultifying conformity the agency imposes, Bernard and magician Jake Morrison start a relationship as vibrant and unique as the men themselves.
But Jake believes in more than nonconformity—he believes in change, and when he tries to change Bernard’s relationship with his father for the better, Bernard is not amused. Bernard thinks he’s too old to change, but if he doesn’t let Jake work his magic on Bernard’s family life, he’ll find that clowning around alone is no laughing matter.
Review: At first glance there is nothing unique about this story; Boy meet boy, boys start dating, boy screws up, boys make-up, boys live happily ever after. But, I found Ms. Fullan’s voice to be very refreshing. I found my self actually reading the bits I usually skip. There was no part of this book, I did not enjoy; the pacing, the dialogue, the love story…the sex. I loved it all.
Most importantly, it had a definite beginning, middle and end. Unlike some shorter works ( this is just over 16,000 words) that leave me unsatisfied. The Clown and the Magician had a natural ending that spoke of promise without being melodramatic.
This was my first read from this author and I wait with bated breath for the next gem to fall from her literary tree.