Published by Samhain Publishing
Released on April 24, 2012
Pages: 149
Format: eBook
Source: Free Book
The Delight
What could have been just your average age-difference romance was given life and complexity with well-drawn characters and the issues of severe health issues on the part of one and past abuse for the other. I was all in and cheering for them to find their way to happy.
Review
Handle with Care is a standalone that I picked up years ago and finally decided to give it a go. I no sooner encounter Benji, living a half-life in his Reading flat as he waits for a kidney and pancrea transplant. The highlight of his days is waiting for the chipper and flirty parcel delivery guy, Ollie, in all his skater guy-looking glory to come by for a brief chat and a delivery. If only Ollie knew how pathetic he was ordering stuff (aka porn) just to see him come more often than just drop off his medicine.
This story is gently-paced, has its stops and starts as these two slowly work things out. Ben is the sole narrator of the story and this is good because it makes Ollie something of an enigma that has to be discovered as Ben gets to know him and earns his trust. There are so many complexities and I love how the author didn’t give them free passes on their feelings or words. Ben is hung up on feeling unattractive and unable to function with another guy because his medical issues like having a port in his belly, his treatments, and his endurance. Ben works for a software company and is doing pretty good. They’re opposites really. Ollie is something of an enigma at first. He seems like this happy-g0-lucky skater kid, just getting by, who might have a thing for an older guy. Ollie’s hang-ups aren’t so obvious at first since Ben’s health is the overriding concern of everyone, but as it all comes out, my heart just broke for him.
There are some spicy moments in the book and I chucked about Ollie’s show of a bit of medical kink, but the relationship and the health issues take the front seat through most of the beginning.
In the end, it was heartwarming and hot, more complex than I expected, and a well-written m/m contemporary romance that I was glad to have read and can recommend.
Challenges
Romance Roundabout #217 LGBT
Mt. TBR #85
COYER Summer #14
Recommendations
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I’m surprised this story worked out so well within just a few pages, but it definitely sounds interesting! Hugs…RO
Yeah, there were some big issues brought up, but I thought she did a pretty good job of writing them well and focusing on the characters themselves and their relationship so it worked for me. 🙂
Always a pleasure, Ro! 🙂
Wow, this is a pretty short story (with only about 200 pages). I agree, I feel like this book would be perfect when you just want romance haha. Great post!
Yes, it was one that I let set on the shelf until it was a right mood right time moment. 🙂
I feel like I could knock this out in an afternoon and love that it exceeded your expectations! You had me at heartwarming and hot… ! <3
L @ Do You Dog-ear?
True! It’s not a long one, but the pacing does stretch it out a little.
Hehe! They are definitely two hot and fun guys. 😉
Aw, this seems like a really sweet romance – and it focuses on a “topic” that I don’t read about much, with one of them being so sick.
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
Yes, it was an interesting element to build on particularly when Ben’s background comes out in relation to his health. Definitely a unique one, Lauren!
It’s lovely when a book that has hung around a while turns out to be well worth the wait 🙂
Yes, exactly. Sometimes when a contemporary doesn’t get read right away it loses its relevancy, but this one didn’t. 🙂
Medical kink lol Sounds like a good one Sophia.
Karen @ For What It’s Worth
Ollie was so funny wanting to see Ben’s port and how he took care of his dialysis and Ben was nearly freaked out waiting for Ollie to be freaked out. 🙂