Handyman [Paperback]

Claire Thompson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2009

Handsome, sexy and gay, Will Spencer used and discarded lovers as easily as he made his Wall Street stock trades. He was used to taking whatand whohe wanted. Jack Crawford, a recently widowed handyman, never thought of himself as gay. Frightened by an erotic encounter years before, Jack had never embraced his deepest sexual longings. In an unlikely pairing, Will and Jack explore an incendiary relationship, sometimes humorous, sometimes heartbreaking, always scintillatingly erotic. Jack is forced to confront feelings hes hidden for a lifetime. Will is faced with something he isnt sure he can handlelove.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Samhain Publishing (July 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1605043192
• ISBN-13: 978-1605043197
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #155,964 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars HANDYMAN by Claire Thompson, December 13, 2008

By 

JenB99 (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handyman (Kindle Edition)

I actually like this storyline: wealthy businessman falls in love with the hot tradesman working on his house/car/garden/etc. It's a cliché and it's not quite realistic, but it's a fun fantasy nevertheless.

Handyman has its flaws, but overall it's a very nice story. Will is sexy and confident. He's never had a serious relationship and has always been hesitant to settle down, and he doesn't know quite what to make of his feelings for deeply-closeted Jack. Jack is strong, honest, and uncertain about his sexuality. He's been mourning the loss of his wife for two years and wonders if he might finally be ready for a new start.

This story has some good angst. It's interesting to see the emotions at play between Will and Jack, and within each man individually. I'm a big fan of shy, tentative touches and "so wrong but feels so good" loveplay, and Claire Thompson writes those scenes very well. The love scenes are steamy and emotional, and the chemistry between the two men sizzles.

I also enjoyed the scenes between Jack and his two sons. Ms. Thompson deals with grief and the emotions of "coming out" very well.

I have two major problems with this book that dragged the rating down from an A to a B-. First of all, this book is incredibly dialogue heavy. The men talk and talk and talk some more. I don't even know any girls who talk that much. The dialogue became exhausting after a while. The narrative was just as tedious as the dialogue. There are literally pages of flashback tossed into the middle of a scene. It's very jarring to be in the middle of a conversation or a sex scene one minute, then suddenly flash back twenty years. It gave me whiplash and broke the flow of what could have been a truly wonderful story.

My second problem with this book is the experience on which Jack bases his "I must be gay" acceptance. There's really no way to describe it in detail without giving spoilers, but it just wasn't convincing to me.

Overall, this is a good story. I'll give it an A for concept, but only a B- for execution.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A slow, sweet seduction, June 19, 2009

By 

Charly T. Anchor (Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Handyman (Paperback)

Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.

Rating: 9/10

PROS:
- The way in which Jack slowly opens up to Will's hints and advances is beautifully done. I know a man who didn't face his homosexuality until he was in his 50s whose awakening proceeded in almost exactly the same way as Jack's does in this book.
- Good examination of the internal uncertainty on the part of both characters; Will thinks Jack will decide he's straight (or at least that he doesn't want to explore whether or not he's really gay), and Jack thinks that Will's just looking for another notch on his belt. Of course, we readers have the benefit of witnessing their blossoming I-don't-trust-this-but-I-can't-help-falling-for-him-anyway feelings also.
- The buildup of feelings and desire on the way to the characters' first sexual encounter is very well done. Each scene is a bit more erotic and a bit less tentative than the last. And I LOVE how patient Will is with Jack's hesitance and inexperience.
- The sex, when we finally get to it (not a complaint; I love the slow speed at which physical intimacy escalates), is sensual and explosive and delightful. And there's a kissing scene that's almost as hot as any of the sex scenes.
- Jack's sons are realistically portrayed and add a nice amount of gravity.
- Far fewer typos and editing issues in this than in many other m/m books I've read.

CON:
- Premise that's a stretch to believe. The difference in age is significant--14 years--as is the difference in lifestyle, education, and emotional background. But I must say, I loved the characters so much that after a few chapters, I happily allowed myself to dismiss any misgivings about the story idea.

Overall comments: If you're looking for erotica, this might not be a good choice for you; there's sexual tension throughout the book, but it doesn't really contain that much sex (as compared to most other m/m romances I've read). But if you enjoy reading about the emotional connection between two men with an occasional hot sex scene thrown in here and there, this is a lovely read.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good writing, emo story., February 19, 2010

By 

Tom - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handyman (Paperback)

Not a bad book, I guess, but the relationship between Will and Jack progresses along very predictable lines and then devolves into a mega-helping of pure emo: lots of angst, introspection, and melodrama. The confrontation with Jack's sons just had me laughing -- and not in a good way. I couldn't help thinking that this kind of situation would only play out like this in the movies (and formulaic romance novels, apparently).

The novel's beginning held my interest but, as often happens in romances of this type, the story started careening out of control about halfway through, like a car rolling down a mountain road with the brakes failing. Jack's constant and brooding ruminations read more like the entries in a love-sick schoolgirl's diary than the real thoughts of a 44-year-old working-class man coming to grips with being attracted to another man.

As for Will, he describes himself at one point as a "Drama Queen"; I couldn't describe him any better myself. By book's end I was ready to see the last of Will. He was, in my opinion, "a mile wide and an inch deep", personality-wise. Jack was the more interesting character of the two and deserved someone better, deeper.

There was potential for an interesting, credible story in "Handyman", but it just wasn't happening for me.