The Backup Boyfriend

3.5 stars. The book was a little slow in parts, but it was great to read a book where a GFY guy actually doesn't totally freak out about wanting another man. Dylan's acceptance of his sexual feelings for Alec were a nice surprise, but I really hated his phobia of admitting they were in a relationship. I don't understand how a supposedly straight man can have feelings for a gay man and have sex with him repeatedly and have no qualms about it, but when the gay man want the straight man to admit they're in a relationship, he freaks?! If you don't care who knows you hang out, eat with and sleep with a gay man every night, why do you care if people know you're in a relationship cuz I have to say, if people know you are doing all of those show more things together, then they assume you're in a relationship anyway. I liked Alec for standing his ground, but I hate that he's the one who went after Dylan. I think after Dylan's reaction to the the relationship discussion it was his responsibility to come to Alec and apologize, even if Alec had changed his mind and decided he didn't need the relationship label as long as they were together.

I was very intrigued by Tyler's reluctance to talk to Memphis, so I'm anxiously awaiting their book! I was afraid Noah's book was going to be next, not that I don't want to read about Noah, but I am more interested in what happened between Tyler and Memphis at this point. And I wonder if Logan will get a story too? show less

4.5 Stars

I liked this book! A lot! An interesting premise that was well plotted and written; characters that were complex and interesting, both the MCs and the secondary characters - no cookie-cutter clones here!

I loved watching both Alec and Dylan grow throughout the book's timeframe. So often it seems to be only 1 character that is required to change but in RL, relationships (at least the good ones) are always a dance of compromise.

Can't wait to read the next book in the series!

I picked this up on another authors([a:R.J. Scott|3432558|R.J. Scott|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1362662970p2/3432558.jpg]) recommendation. I'm so glad I did.

I am usually very leery about picking up new authors books. It is available on Amazon prime as a free read but, I enjoyed it so much though that I ended up buying it mid way through the book. It is funny and sweet with just the right amount of angst combined.

This one is going on my favorites list for sure. I'm adding [a:River Jaymes|7136995|River Jaymes|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1372541034p2/7136995.jpg] to my authors to watch for also.

Spectacular

This book was great. It was well written with a great plot. I loved the build-up of the characters from friendship to beyond. The angst wasn't over done and was very believable. What I really loved about this was that it wasn't riddled with raunchy cliches. It was a romance between two men with sexual content, but it wasn't over done or too vulgar. I have nothing against erotica or explicit sex, in fact I love it, but it doesn't belong in something that's described as more romance and fluff.

The writing was truly spot on and I applaud the author for not losing the plot or the characters. The romance was sweet, and the angst was wrenching and the sex was fantastic. And none of it was overly dramatic or too drawn out or too show more quick. It all flowed very nicely.

I very much enjoyed this and would be very willing to continue with the series. My only complaint was a quote that was blatantly taken from The Fellowship of the Ring. In a book that was, refreshingly without an abundance of stereotypical cliches, it just didn't fit and was disappointing to see. Whether or not it was an unconscious accident or purposely done remains to be seen. I just know I had an "oh no!" moment when I read it. show less

I kept hearing about how great it was so I had to check it out for myself.  I was not disappointed.
The outline went gay guy is dumped by long time boyfriend.  Ex-boyfriend gets a new boyfriend so gay guy tries to reinvent himself by getting a motorcycle.  He meets the straight mechanic and develops feelings for said straight guy.
I expected the straight guy to also develop feelings and finally deciding he is gay or bi, and the ex to see what he lost and the new couple to ride off into the sunset.There is so much more going on in this story.  It contains so many layers and interesting characters.
Alec is not the average doctor you read about in a steamy book.  There is exceedingly more to him, his job, his family and his background. show more  Over the course of the story, the reader is shown so much of Alec and what he's all about, so many qualities and quirks to love.
Dylan the presumably straight man is the most fascinating character in the book to me.  I figured since he was the straight man, his biggest problem would be having feelings for a man, but his largest block is commitment.  He is damaged.  His past and how he comes to finally figure out his place in this world are breathtaking, in my opinion.  The more that I discovered about him, the more I wanted to know.  And the more I knew, the more I could see he is finally exactly where he was meant to be all along.
Then, there is their mutual friend Noah, another gay man who tends to be more on the flamboyant side.  But underneath his loud demeanor is a sweet man who's also went through some deep places.  I would like to see more about him in a future book in the series.




I wouldn't miss this fake-homo show for all the Gucci shoes on Rodeo Drive.


Finally, I need to say a little about Tyler, the ex.  We probably learn the least about him, but he isn't the despicable ex I was assuming he would turn out to be.  He ends up being a good guy after I got to know him somewhat.  Book 2 is suppose to be his story I believe.  And I am looking forward to it.
Anyways, the characters are so extremely well-developed and don't follow the usual patterns that I presumed they would.  I really, really got into the revealing of each.

It isn't just a sexy read; it is a thought-provoking read.  I must say though, the sex is sizzling.  Everything doesn't wrap up perfectly in the end, but it is a great ending.  I think this book was more real.  It wasn't all about the shock and awe.  It was about accepting life and others as they come.  It just happened to come in a red-hot lustful package.
I also have to give a special shout out to the author for writing a book about individuals that actually communicate.  I didn't have the desire to throw my kindle across the room one time because of a misinterpretation between the love interests that leads to half a book of drama.  Everything didn't go perfect, they did fight and have misunderstandings and so on, but they soon went back after the problem in a mature way.  It's amazing to read about grown ups acting grown up.
So anyways, Alec and Dylan-yum.









toni















There is so much more going on in this story. It contains so many layers and interesting characters. my review can be found at http://fangirlmomentsandmytwocents.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-backup-boyfriend-by-... show less

Going solo (no pun intended) has to be a trend cause it’s often and often that I read self-published books that are at the same level, if not upper, than other novels published by the more acclaimed Gay Romance publishers. Usually, you have to take in account some problem with the editing, some bad typos, but in this case, maybe I was so enthralled in the story, sincerely I didn’t notice any. And while the plot is, apparently, the usual gay for you theme, there is something more psychological, and in the end, bittersweet in the deployment of the story.

Dylan’s best friend, actually almost a brother, the one with whom he shared his teen years as runaway kid, was gay; and he is now dead, AIDS, as many other young men. Rick, the show more friend, used to turn tricks on the streets, and that is how Dylan met him; Dylan became friend, brother and protector for Rick, but couldn’t prevent his dying 5 years before, at 25. And now, 5 years later, Rick’s former boyfriend, Noah, the one who shared with him the pain of loss, asks Dylan to help Alec, a doctor who serves in an free-clinic for homeless people. The task is easy, Dylan restores vintage motorbike and Alec wants to buy an Harley; how he ends being Alec’s backup boyfriend to teach a lesson to Alec’s former boyfriend, Tyler, that is not easy. Especially considering that Dylan is not gay… but maybe he is not even straight.

Alec is an activist through and through, not only he gives his time for free at the clinic, he is also a promoter for same-sex marriage, arriving to be a poster boy for it alongside with his boyfriend Tyler; but now Tyler is gone, he is even in another relationship, and Alec feels lost. Little by little, you arrive to realize that Alec’s driving to a life in couple was yet another way to conform to a society that apparently is denying an ordinary life to him and the LGBT community; instead of fighting for the right to be different, Alec is thriving to be the same, and though, accepted.

On the other side Dylan is against every type of commitment, from him owning 15 bikes, so that basically, he isn’t attached to any of them, to not being with the same woman twice. Everyone he loved, eventually he lost, and he has no intention to give it a try. And then he is not gay… but maybe claiming heterosexuality is only another way to not commit? Meaning that, if he isn’t really with someone he can love, than maybe that is the sure way to remain single.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0991280717/?tag=elimyrevandra-20 show less

Reviewed by Adrienne at http://www.scuttlebuttreviews.com/2013/12/08/the-backup-boyfriend-the-boyfriend-...
Faced with his former boyfriend embarking on a new relationship after recently dumping Alec, Alec decides to make some life changes. He starts by purchasing a classic Harley. Unfortunately, he has no idea how to ride or maintain his motorcycle, so he turns to a Dylan, a mechanic who shares a mutual friend for help. Dylan doesn’t have much extra time on his hands, but he goes by Alec’s one afternoon and happens to meet the ex-partner, Tyler, who is there to pick up belongings he’d left behind. Alex and Tyler have seen each other since breaking up, they co-own a clinic, after all. But this time, Tyler has his new boyfriend with show more him. Upon seeing Alec’s vulnerability at the situation, Dylan, the prototype for butch, straight men everywhere, announces he’s Alec’s new lover.
As their charade turns into reality, Alec and Dylan's friendship grows and their feelings for each other deepen. But eventually they have to deal with one another’s preconceived ideas about relationships. They both have perfectly reasonable and understandable reactions to their situation. Dylan’s response is particularly fantastic, and fits perfectly with his experiences. Meanwhile, Alec is in a somewhat panicky state, which makes complete sense, given how he’s so caught up in a “straight” guy.
The Backup Boyfriend has the added benefit of being more than just a fluffy GFY romance, thanks to the excellent writing of Ms. Jaymes, and dips into questioning how much external validation really matters.I only noticed two editing errors ("eek" instead of "eke", and "housed" instead of "house"). Particularly for a self-published book, that’s not bad at all, and neither interrupted the flow. The writing and story were good enough to smooth easily over any small missteps, and the plot was as close to perfectly executed as I've read in a while. show less