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Normal Enough - Marie Sexton

Kasey has a car fetish. He really, really loves them. Not all cars, of course, Just the really cool ones, like that 1970 Chevelle SS 454 that shows up at the car shop where Kasey works, handsome owner included.

No, Kasey doesn't want to have sex with the car. But it sure turns him on, so much so that he's springing a boner while talking to the car's owner. 

Marie Sexton deftly delivers a character study of a lonely man, feeling shamed by his fetish, and estranged from his family, too afraid to even reach out to his co-workers to make friends.

But that Chevelle, and the subsequent muscle cars Brandon brings by to encourage Kasey's interest, as well as Brandon's easy acceptance of Kasey's fetish, gives Kasey the push that he needed. He begins thinking about his life, and what turns him on, and that maybe if someone accepts it for what it is, he doesn't have to be ashamed. And perhaps it's even okay to accept that invitation for beers after work, and perhaps it's even a good idea to listen to that message idling on his answering machine.

Kasey grows in realistic ways by the end of the book, from a closed off loner to someone who questions himself and his motives. 

Perhaps due to the length of this novella, it smacked a wee bit of instalove, but I liked the happy-for-now, and I even liked that Kasey questioned Brandon's intentions. It's a bit fluffy, for sure, but it was just the thing I wanted at the time. I thought Kasey was cute and adorable in his hesitation and fumblings, and I really liked the fetish being explored here. 

And holy hot boysecks, Batman. Marie Sexton sure can write the heat. *wipes brow*

Check it out, will ya? It was a great way to spend a couple of hours, curled up in my favorite reading chair. 

** I received a free copy of this book from the author as part of her blog tour. A positive review was not promised in return. **

The Blurb...

Zander Lynch has his limits. He loves touring as the lead singer of his band, but sometimes, he needs a little peace and quiet. Just an hour of silence after a show with no one asking him questions or making demands. Brad Reese needs this job. He’s recently been hired by the volatile, obnoxious lead guitarist…who is also Zander’s on-again off-again boyfriend.

As much as Brad would love to get to know Zander, he’s not risking his job for someone who’s likely out of his league anyway. But after a chance encounter, the attraction between the two men is undeniable. And though it means risking peace within the band—not to mention Brad’s employment—they might just be what the other has been missing.

So what did I think?

This was a fairly simple and quick to read story set in the world of rock n' roll.

It has a focus on balancing relationship decisions with career choices as Zander has been staying with what (and who) he knows and making personal sacrifices so as not to rock the boat and upset the dynamics of the band.

Brad is selfless, loving Zander the man not Zander the rock star. "Maybe because I'd sat with him for a little while, shared a laugh and some smoke, and he hadn't ruined his image by being a pretentious jerk or looking down his nose at me. He'd been human, and so seeing him now with all his stage dress and makeup, his larger-than-life effect was somehow more pronounced.". Zander is attracted to Brad who sees the real person and wants what's best for him. "Brad was a breath of fresh air in so many ways. He was so giving, so unselfish. He barely knew me, but still went out of his way to keep me sane." Rick is the man who tries to manipulate them both.

It's a short story with some steamy but very loving sex scenes, a bit of drama and a HFN ending. 

❅❅❅❅❅❅❅

To find out more about L.A. Witt and her books visit her website.

Buy Enjoy The Silence from Amazon.

3 Hearts

Review written for MM Good Book Reviews