Title: Raining Men
Series: Chaser, Book Two
Author: Rick R. Reed
Publisher: NineStar Press LTD.
Release Date: March 09, 2020
Heat Level: 3/5 – some sex
Pairing: M/M
Length: 453 pages
Genre: Contemporary, LGBTQIA+, sex addiction, therapy, friends to lovers, hurt-comfort, guilt, reparation, over 40
Summary:
The character you loved to hate in Chaser becomes the character you will simply love in Raining Men.
It’s been raining men for most of Bobby Nelson’s adult life. Normally, he wouldn’t have it any other way, but lately, something’s missing. Now, he wants the deluge to slow to a single special drop. But is it even possible for Bobby to find “the one” after endless years of hooking up?
When Bobby’s father passes away, Bobby finally examines his rocky relationship with the man and how it might have contributed to his inability to find the love he yearns for. Guided by a sexy therapist, a Sex Addicts Anonymous group, a well-endowed Chihuahua named Johnny Wadd, and Bobby’s own cache of memories, Bobby takes a spiritual, sexual, and emotional journey to discover that life’s most satisfactory love connections lie in quality, not quantity. And when he’s ready to love not only himself but someone else, sex and love fit, at last, into one perfect package.
My Review:
I have to be honest, I just wasn’t sure I was going to like this story – and it has nothing to do with Reed’s writing – I’m a die-hard fan. I honestly haven’t read a single Reed novel I didn’t gush over and love to death.
Bear with me here (pun intended). Chaser, Chaser: Book One is a story about Caden and Kevin and how the two find romance wading through the rough waters of body image – something that is a huge issue within the gay community. As a bearish kinda guy myself, I truly latched onto the characters in this novel. It’s one of my favorites. Bobby, our main character in Raining Men, Chaser: Book Two is Caden’s best friend, and in the first installment, Bobby is a complete and utter asshole. I HATED him. Imagine my chagrin reading an entire novel about Bobby. That was a “No, thank you” moment.
But I had the chance to talk to Mr. Reed about Raining Men. He told me it was one of his favorite novels to write because we get to see life from Bobby’s perspective. Reed got the opportunity to give Bobby a backstory, a personality, and humanity that we could understand, and warm up to. We, as readers, get to watch the transition and growth Bobby makes. It was a space where the villain is turned into an anti-hero.
Damn you, Mr. Reed once again you did not disappoint. I started this novel with hate and malice towards the main character stuck in my craw. And then slowly, I cam to realize why Bobby is such a mess. We see his journey on his acceptance of being of sex addict. We get to understand the dynamics of his past relationship with his father, and how he transferred his perceived lack of love into attempting to fill that void with constant anonymous sex. We watch Bobby grow.
Enter Aaron. Aaron who has already traveled down the road Bobby is starting out on. Aaron who is calm, understanding, non-judgemental, and a steady point, a foothold for Bobby on his path to recovery. Not gonna lie – Aaron was described as a total hottie – which made me want everything in this story to work out.
There are lots of emotions to unpack from this book. Reconciliation with family, dealing with loss (of all kinds, but particularly the death of a parent), accounting for past actions, admission of past sins, reconnecting with those who have been hurt, and then finding self-acceptance, love, compassion, and healthy relationships.
Reed was right to love this story. It was an interesting journey for myself to go from hating the main character to feeling sympathy for him. But it went beyond that as well. Towards the end, I was rooting for Bobby – because damn it all – we all deserve second chances and the ability to change. In the course of a lifetime, we all grow. And so did Bobby.
Honestly, my blog has become a tribute to Rick R. Reed – quite by chance, and certainly not my intent – but I can’t begin to say how much I really enjoy his writing. It’s well crafted, it’s real, it’s 100% relatable and every story resonates either within myself, or I can pick out people from my life who I know have lived similar stories. Reed’s tag line is Real Men, Real Love – and it’s such a perfect phrase.
Reed captures the experience of gay life and portrays it honestly in his Romance novels. If you haven’t picked up any of his numerous works – you really should. You won’t be disappointed.
Rating:
Purchase Links:
NineStar Press | Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Meet the Author:
Rick R. Reed draws inspiration from the lives of gay men to craft stories that quicken the heartbeat, engage emotions, and keep the pages turning. Although he dabbles in horror, dark suspense, and comedy, his attention always returns to the power of love. He’s the award-winning and bestselling author of more than fifty works of published fiction and is forever at work on yet another book. Lambda Literary has called him: “A writer that doesn’t disappoint…” You can find him at http://www.rickrreedreality.blogspot.com. Rick lives in Palm Springs, CA, with his beloved husband, Bruce, and their fierce Chihuahua/Shiba Inu mix, Kodi.
J.P. Jackson 