Best Gay Romance 2008 [Paperback]

Richard Labonte (Editor)

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Cleis Press; 2008 edition (November 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573443034
• ISBN-13: 978-1573443036
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,097,686 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Gay Romance 2008 edited by Richard Labonte, March 12, 2008

By 

Elisa (Italy) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Best Gay Romance 2008 (Paperback)

This is an athology of love stories, most of them seeing throught the pink glass of romance.

Henry and Jim by J.M. Snyder: two men are together for more than fifty years, but one of them has a progressive illness who cause him to forget even the more simple things. But a little sign by him will prove that love will be never forgotten.

The Empire Room by Dale Chase: a man goes to the funeral of his suicidal cousin and guilty overcomes him. But he meets a man here that maybe will help him to move on.

Coming Home by Shanna Germain: a man chose city over country and now he is back home after some years. He meets his stepbrother, maybe one of the reason who drove him to leave home, and a heated afternoon in the barn will unveal many things.

The Belt by Kal Cobalt: a couple plays a bit of D/S game, but the rituals allow them to prove that they are two part of an item and that they are stronger and happier thanks to it.

Boyfriends: A Triptych by Shaun Levin: the first story is only a little fairy tale. The second is about two men who meet in a hot bath and who share a night of passion. They could be a perfect couple, but the morning after they kiss goodbye. The third is about a man who eaversdrops another man giving his phone number and he starts to call him, not to threaten, but to slowly wooing him and finally build a solid relationship together.

Endless Against Amber by Matthew Lowe: they are teens and they love each other. But they are also in an age where a dare move still is a fearful blind step and so, in the end, they don't have the courage to claim their love forever.

A Not-So-Straight Duet by Natty Soltesz: in the first two college mates got paid to make an home made gay porn, but they discover that make sex together is not a thing they could simple forget. In the second two best friend share a night of passion induced by a drunken move, but the morning after, when the alcohol is over, the passion is still there.

Falling by Simon Sheppard: A man tries to overcome the lost of his lover (probably for death) writing him letters. He passes from sadness to anger to apathy. He recalls their love and life together and perhaps he manages to deal with the loss. A very heartbreaking story.

The Bike Path by T. Hitman: two men have a very strong and faithful relationship even if they are at opposite pole. But they have learnt that balance is the secret of life, and if one time I let you do something, next time you will second me. Also a very good and "intimate" sex scene.

The Country House by Jameson Currier: A quarrelling couple likes to host friends in their haunted country house. Two ghost lovers of the past will help a couple of today to stay together. A little story with an high sense of details, very intriguing.

The Rush of Love (The Titanic '70s Before the Iceberg of Irony) by Jack Fritscher: an hot encounter when love was still simple and not a life risk matter.

Fucked on Kilimajaro by Jay Starre: two men meet during an hiking on Kilimanjaro. During the cold night in an isolate tent they share nights of passion, and at the end of their adventure, they decide to give a try to the relationship even on their ordinary life. Another hot sex scene that manages to mix "graphic" sex with romance.

Gone Fishing by Rob Rosen: a man tired of clubbing finally meets Mr Right Man, but event on event seem to conjure against him. Luckily true love is a powerful force.

Viva Las Vegas by Max Pierce: the classical gay man who likes old movie stars and fashion dress has the chance to finally go to Las Vegas and live the glittering life of the city. But reality is not like in the movie. But he approaches life with style and he manages to turn a fiasco in a dream.

What the Eye Reveals by Jason Shults: a man is questioning his love and life with his partner. Can he read the truth in the eye of his lover? Or maybe it's him that has changed his mind?

The Canals of Mars by Victor J. Banis: a man is horrible scarred and he thinks that no one will love him again. But a man, who probably he before would not even consider, will teach him that love his not an eye matter, but something from the soul: and through loving eyes you can see what you want or maybe you can see the truth.

A very beatiful anthology, highly reccomended

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars an upgrade to be sure, February 21, 2008

By 

B.A. Wall "reads a lot" (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Best Gay Romance 2008 (Paperback)

This is much better than the first volume they published last year, even the cover is better. The stories are diverse and have the right balance of love/romance with just enough sex to make it a tinge more spicy than some of the other collections out there that say they are romance but really are just trashy sex...not that there is anything wrong with that, but don't bill yourself as what you are not. These stories stay true to the theme and are well written, Mr. Labonte did a good job in choosing them.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing with a heavy dollop of angst, October 31, 2008

By 

camille (Chicago) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Best Gay Romance 2008 (Paperback)

I was disappointed with the stories in this book. Although they were generally well-written, the stories were mostly half-formed and therefore unsatisfying. Most of them were overly angst-ridden and therefore reminded me of teen drama novelettes or after school specials. I had to force myself to finish the book and only did that because I'd paid full price for it. If I'd gotten it at a discount I probably would have thrown it away.