Bryn Colvin

Russ and Liam were young and full of passion. They loved art and they played together in a band, but really no one of them was very good. And so Liam tried the actor career in the States and Russ became a good radio dj.

Years later Russ has a pretty good but lonely life: his long time fiancee dumped him when she discovered that he was googling gay porn site. Not that Russ has ever had an homosexual experience, but he has fantasized on it. And then suddenly Liam phones him: he is back in England and he needs a friend. He can't stand all the media circus and the only person he thinks that knows the real Liam, is Russ. And Russ gladly accepts the role of the old friend, but can't prevent himself to dreaming about Liam in a not very friendly way.

Since Russ thinks that Liam has everything he wants in life, he can't be interesting in an average man like Russ, and then Liam is straight. But maybe Russ is wrong.

The story is not very long, 50 pages, but it's the classical romantic comedy I like. No much drama, it reminds me a bit Notthing Hill with Julia Roberts's role played by a man! Both Russ and Liam are likeable characters, even if maybe I find more involving Russ; Liam is good, but I feel him a bit detached, maybe cause the story is told by Russ' point of view.

I think the plot is rather good, but I'd like for the story to be a little longer: I think the idea deserved a bit more. Maybe the author could consider to write a sequel, and tells us Liam and Russ' life together (and so I made a spoiler, now you know that there is an happily ever after...)… (more)

Tim is a PhD student. He is more a type of lab study but he has a crush on Rowan Cleeve, a field type professor. So he has chosen him as tutor, to be able to be near him without suspect. But one night they remains trapped in a cave and before they get free, they share a night in which something happen that will change forever their relationship.

Tim is a shy student, but not weak. When he wants something, he knows how to get it. And Rowan is a surprise: I will not reveal in which way he will surprise you, cause in a pretty short book, less then 40 pages, maybe it's the one thing that made the book worth to be read.

So for a short novel, Tight, Dark Places is rather good, well plotted and enjoyable.… (more)

This a story of slow seduction.

Fraser is a goth guy disenchanted of world and maybe a little bored. He hangs out with his friends (women) and has brief flings, not very important. Then he meets Darren, a younger and handsome man, who istinctively like him but from the very first time says: I don't touch.

Passing over from what at first seems a refusal, Fraser manages to know better Darren and learns he was traumatized from a bad sexual experience with a girl. So Fraser sets himself to seduce Darren, even if he normally doesn't play the dominant role in his relationships.

The story is very brief and has a tinge of normality and sadness in it. The world in where both live Fraser and Darren seems bare and dark, made of dirty club and smell of sweat. But they succeed in built something between them and for them. A recurring situation in the stories I read by Bryn Colvin.

Not bad, only a complaint: it's possible that a traumatic sexual experience with a girl leads Darren toward guys? Is it because he needs to find a dominant figure that almost coaxes him in making sex again?… (more)