A review by leelah
Tempesta by Lisa Henry, J.A. Rock

2.0

Henry was supposed to be this fun guy, but angst just about killed the whole experience for me. (-_-)
I am a fan of Lisa and Rock and I love they branched in other direction, but it seems they work for me only when they are their kinkiest and darkest self.
When neither plot or characters are keeping my interest, there is not much left for me to like, but here is what made me smile: Return of "The Eye of the Tiger"! Mark Cooper would be so proud. ;)

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+ this:

"This big, tough guy, and Henry had fucked him. He had topped Mac, even though he’d been dressed like a girl at a time, and even though he was smaller and prettier and even though nine out of ten shoppers would choose Henry as their preferred bottom . . ."

Presumed sexual roles based on level of masculinity and the appearance of people in same-sex relationship is one of my big peeves and I always point it out. AJH addresses this thing in one of his many amazing blog posts , where he concludes:

"The truth is every time I read a book that doesn’t feel the need to engage with these expectations, I feel my heart expand. For a little while, I can breathe and the air tastes good.
That’s how I want to write. I want to write in a space where the messed up shit is so completely irrelevant it might as well not exist. I want to create that space with my writing.
I want to build it with other writers and other readers. I want this to be our consensus."

And this is me doing my part. I want that space as well. :)