Rob Rosen

This short story reads like a fable. It is filled with animals who talk and have all sorts of human issues, but, basically they are animals the vast majority of the time. It’s an interesting take on the ‘Walk on the Wild Side’ theme of this year’s Dreamspinner Daily Dose collection, and even though I’ve read the story’s first edition, reading it again was just as much fun as the first time. The idea of a vegetarian werewolf, just barely accepted by a pack despite his show more “proclivities”, as they call it, is pretty funny to start with. But to then have him find others with his “preferences” and see them deal with life as the forest rejects them is pretty darn entertaining.

Jackson may look like a scary predator, but he doesn't want to eat meat and, in fact, hates seeing blood. When a bear catches him crunching on some delicious carrots, Jackson’s secret is out and he fears the worst. His reaction to the bear “confessing” similar issues is hilarious, and Jackson’s curiosity is piqued. What follows when Jackson attends his first "carnivores anonymous" meeting whose motto is “meat is murder” is the beginning of a new life for Jackson.

Frank is another werewolf attending the secret meetings of carnivores repulsed by killing their food, and Jackson is more than excited by the prospect of finding some real companionship, a pack, tiny as it may be, where he is accepted just the way he is. But the approaching winter with its lack of growing things to feed on presents a real challenge, and Jackson and Frank need to figure out how to survive. I can't tell you more without giving away the ending - which is brilliant, funny, and totally logical, yet I did not expect it.

If you like fables that will make you think, if you enjoy reading about a different kind of werewolf, and if you're looking for a short read that is funny but with a serious message and a surprise ending, then you should give this very entertaining short story a try.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. show less

I haven't read anything by Rob Rosen before, but let me tell you, I won't hesitate in the future. First of all, a warning to those of you who might be looking for a "typical" M/M romance book - this is not that book. However, this is a great erotic no el, filled with humor, authentic characterizations, and a mystery. It's a very loosely based kind of retelling of Tess of the D'urbervilles.

Twenty-three-year-old Ted is living on the streets when he receives an email )on a stolen iPad) letting show more him know that there is a will-reading in New York he needs to attend. Getting to New York seems like an overwhelming task until Ted meets Benny.

Benny is a drug addict who lives on the streets. At first, Ted wants nothing to do with him, but desperation and they're shared knowledge of the tips and tricks for living on the street resulted in them becoming reluctant traveling partners. When Benny goes into withdrawal soon after they hook up, Ted stays with him rather than heading onto the train that will take him to New York.

As the two young men get to know each other, they forget one of the most unusual and intriguing relationships I've read in a book in a long time. Ted is gay, Benny is straight but they become intimate with one another... normally that kind of "gay for you" relationship would leave me with a feeling that it was fun, yeah, but not so realistic. Rosen makes the relationship between Ted and Benny work. Not only does their relationship work but it's intimate, sweet, endearing, scary and flawed.

They continue to travel towards New York and a future that Ted doesn't even understand. Sure, he could be someone's long lost relative, but he could also be inheriting the family cat. He doesn't know what the future holds, but then he never really has. There's a little in this novel about just stepping out of yourself and doing something... anything. Moving forward is as important to Ted and Benny as appreciating what they have in the moment (if that makes any sense.)

The connection between Benny and Ted is already well established by the time they arrive at the D'urbervilles. This is when the novel gets even more interesting. The family lawyer still has no confirmation that Ted is a member of the family...there's a month for him to continue his research. There's something else going on in the family though. Ted can't put his finger on it, but there are secrets that could be important when it comes to his connection to the family.

I'm not going to spoil the plot because I would love for people to read this book. There is a lot of sex in this book - which isn't a bad thing at all - but there's also a lot of plot. These two characters are intimate with one another long before they are doing more than holding one another. Rosen has created such a beautiful friendship with his writing, it's the kind of friendship that will linger in my mind for a long time to come.

This is a great novel that just happens to be erotica as well. If that works for you...then you'll love this book! show less

I haven't read anything by Rob Rosen before, but let me tell you, I won't hesitate in the future. First of all, a warning to those of you who might be looking for a "typical" M/M romance book - this is not that book. However, this is a great erotic no el, filled with humor, authentic characterizations, and a mystery. It's a very loosely based kind of retelling of Tess of the D'urbervilles.

Twenty-three-year-old Ted is living on the streets when he receives an email )on a stolen iPad) letting show more him know that there is a will-reading in New York he needs to attend. Getting to New York seems like an overwhelming task until Ted meets Benny.

Benny is a drug addict who lives on the streets. At first, Ted wants nothing to do with him, but desperation and they're shared knowledge of the tips and tricks for living on the street resulted in them becoming reluctant traveling partners. When Benny goes into withdrawal soon after they hook up, Ted stays with him rather than heading onto the train that will take him to New York.

As the two young men get to know each other, they forget one of the most unusual and intriguing relationships I've read in a book in a long time. Ted is gay, Benny is straight but they become intimate with one another... normally that kind of "gay for you" relationship would leave me with a feeling that it was fun, yeah, but not so realistic. Rosen makes the relationship between Ted and Benny work. Not only does their relationship work but it's intimate, sweet, endearing, scary and flawed.

They continue to travel towards New York and a future that Ted doesn't even understand. Sure, he could be someone's long lost relative, but he could also be inheriting the family cat. He doesn't know what the future holds, but then he never really has. There's a little in this novel about just stepping out of yourself and doing something... anything. Moving forward is as important to Ted and Benny as appreciating what they have in the moment (if that makes any sense.)

The connection between Benny and Ted is already well established by the time they arrive at the D'urbervilles. This is when the novel gets even more interesting. The family lawyer still has no confirmation that Ted is a member of the family...there's a month for him to continue his research. There's something else going on in the family though. Ted can't put his finger on it, but there are secrets that could be important when it comes to his connection to the family.

I'm not going to spoil the plot because I would love for people to read this book. There is a lot of sex in this book - which isn't a bad thing at all - but there's also a lot of plot. These two characters are intimate with one another long before they are doing more than holding one another. Rosen has created such a beautiful friendship with his writing, it's the kind of friendship that will linger in my mind for a long time to come.

This is a great novel that just happens to be erotica as well. If that works for you...then you'll love this book! show less

This may not exactly be the traditional "cowboy and Indian" story, but this tale had me smiling from the start. The cowboy's horse has as much personality as one of the main characters, the "dangerous" Apache warrior turns out to have some unusual interests, and the scene in the outhouse had me laughing and cringing (think of the smells!) in turn.

Jed is a cowboy on a mission, He needs money, and the rodeo near faraway Tucson may be just the thing. Fifty dollars, in those days, was a lot of show more money, and he wants to buy his horse, Betsy, a new saddle, amongst other things. Except, he has to get there first and Betsy needs to be convinced. His "discussions" with her were hilarious. Meeting an Apache warrior, just after the Apache wars are over, is not what he expected, and he is ready to fight for his life. As it turns out, the warrior has other ideas.

Taza defuses the threat to his life quickly and effectively. Once he convinces Jed that giving each other pleasure is much more fun than fighting, the two of them get along famously. To the point where Taza accompanies Jed to Tucson, thinking he can also ride in the rodeo. Turns out that takes a bit of doing, and the outcome is somewhat different from what he and Jed expected, but Taza takes it all in stride.

If you like unusual angles on otherwise traditional story plots, if you enjoy reading about men from different cultures who are curious about each other for more than, um, a cross-cultural exchange of ideas and concepts, and if you're looking for a fun, hot read, then you will probably like this short story.



NOTE: This book was provided by Torquere Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. show less