Tipping the Balance by Christopher Koehler

Title: Tipping the Balance

Series: CalPac Crew 02

Author: Christopher Koehler

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel (320pgs)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (12^th September 2011)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4 ½Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Between his job as a Realtor and his home renovation business, Drew St. Charles is in over his head. What he really needs is a licensed contractor to oversee his projects, and Drew knows just the man for the job: Brad Sundstrom. The Sundstrom family has been in construction for years, so Brad knows his way around a toolbox, and he desperately wants out from under his sneering father’s thumb.

The close contact and the excitement of a career-making renovation fan the sparks between Brad and Drew into an inferno. Before long, the phrase “working hard together” takes on a new meaning. It looks as if Drew’s dreams are coming true, although Brad is far from out and proud. But then Drew is savagely attacked in a hate crime, and Brad panics.

Suddenly everything is in jeopardy. When arson strikes Drew’s dream project, Brad faces a crucial test: he’ll need to overcome his fears, save their work, and take his place at Drew’s side or retreat to the stifling familiarity of the closet.

Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2500

Review: Drew is out and proud and has a crush on straight Brad.  Drew decides he’d like to be friends even if nothing ever happens between them when Brad shocks him. Brad panics when he starts having feelings for Drew and he really hasn’t got a clue about what Drew will do.

This is a great book and at first I thought it would be a ‘gay for you’ but Brad eventually proves that’s not true. This story-line was great and Brad’s struggles that he has mentally over his sexuality and his relationship were very realistic and I had much sympathy for him and I thought towards the end that Drew should grow up and stop being such a baby, I mean really he was 29yr old man not a 15yr old girl (although a 15yr old girl wouldn’t act that childish either).

There is emotional conflict and mental conflict and trying to push someone out of the closet before they are ready, there’s a beating and a fire and also friends and family. I think Brad and Drew’s relationship was good but that Drew expected too much from Brad too fast; as Brad just wasn’t at that comfort level yet. This is an incredibly written story that has a lot of attention to detail but doesn’t feel too heavy because of that detail (do you know what I mean?).

I think that this is one of those books that you could have a great discussion about the two main characters and you will always have people taking sides as to which one was right and which one was wrong, I thought Drew was wrong and then acted like a child but someone else will think that Brad was wrong and he should have manned up sooner, everyone will have a different opinion, Fantastic writing, Mr. Koehler, just fantastic.

So really, all I can recommend is for you to go out, get this book and enjoy because you really shouldn’t miss it.