Title: The Quiet Game
Author: Willa Okati
Genre: Comedy/Humor/Contemporary
Length: Novella (59 pages)
Publisher: Total e-bound (September 12th, 2013)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥ 3 Hearts
Reviewer: Mandingo
Blurb: Flirtatious Rhys loves nothing better than chatting up handsome strangers on the job—until quirky Jareth, a player with unique moves, captivates him with absolute silence.
Server and bartender at Rook’s, a restaurant rumoured to be lucky for lovers, Rhys enjoys his life to the fullest. A playful social butterfly, he revels in flirtation and flights of fancy. Though he’s never been one for settling down, after seeing so many happy couples in action he’s started to wonder if it’s about time.
Then Rhys meets Jareth. Or, more properly, Jareth meets Rhys, jumping the terrace fence at Rook’s when they’re closed and there’s no crowd to be lost in. Quirky and compelling, Jareth catches the loquacious Rhys’ attention with deliberate, absolute silence. No matter how Rhys may tempt him, Jareth refuses to speak a word—but there are other ways to get his point across, and Jareth has no problem making his intentions and desires for Rhys crystal clear.
Communicating with the captivating charmer is a challenge, but Rhys is having the time of his life playing the quiet game. He might even—much to his surprise—have started falling for Jareth, a man who makes his own luck when it comes to love
Purchase Link: http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?P_ID=2302
Review: I loved the premise of the story, hence why I chose to review it. But, I just couldn’t get into it for some reason. Rhys is clearly the kind of guy that everyone man loves to love – literally. And Jareth is a quite mysterious sort, who every man would want to get to know. His air of mystery is appealing and you want to know he’s ‘chosen’ not to talk. The reader must assume that the story will be revealed and that the jig will be up eventually. And, since it’s a short story, it’s not going to take that long to get to the point. Spoiler alert: In a noisy world, sometimes the best means to be noticed is to simply remain quiet – sort of the ‘pregnant pause’ notion.
The story progresses and the reader’s questions are answered, but the only missing piece is ‘why’ should we care about Rhys and Jareth? What is it about the two characters that should make the reader want to root for them? A quirky, sexy, mysterious man is not enough to make me think that the pro and antagonist should end up together. I took solace in the notion that The Rook is meant for lovers and that this is the premise behind why Jareth and Rhys must get together.
The author’s use of non-verbal cues is nicely handled and so from a writing standpoint, that is very, very clever. Jareth leading Rhys along “the quiet game” is interesting to read even knowing what the end will eventually be. The men only know each other a few days and the end should seem contrived, but it doesn’t. The reader can assume that the capitulation has its precedent in the unusual progress of their relationship.
This is a fun short read for anyone not seeking a deep story, but instead a quick romp, maybe over a lunch of curry and dark beer (a feature at The Rook).