[The Blog of Sid Love & Dreamspinner Press comes together once again to make this Valentine’s Day a special one for you! As DSP releases each of its books in their “A Valentine Rainbow” Anthology, you get to read their reviews right here from us and also get a chance to win them. A whole set of this anthology plus individual books will given away during this event. And all you need to do is leave a comment to every post that is tagged “A Valentine Rainbow Event” as this one. You will also find it on the Home Page. Contest Ends 15th February, 2014]

Reviewed by Carissa

TITLE:  Valentine Shower

AUTHOR:  John C. Houser

PUBLISHER:  Dreamspinner Press

LENGTH:  56 pages

BLURB:  

For Reuben, numbers are everything people are not: rational, predictable, and soothing. Outside of this family, his boss, Terry, is the one person he feels connected with. In the years they’ve worked together, listening to Terry’s jokes and stories over coffee has become a reliable part of his routine. But he’s missed having family nearby since his parents retired to Florida, and figures he’ll need a woman to correct the problem. He’s hurt and confused when Terry not only refuses to help, but announces he won’t be coming around much anymore. It’s up to Reuben’s no-nonsense sister Yaffa and his therapist, Dr. Greenberg, to help him understand Terry’s feelings—and his own.

REVIEW:  

Reuben is smart.  Real smart.  Smart and analytical and rational.  He may not understand everything about the world, but he figures a few hours of research can help untangle a whole lot.  Granted, that solution isn’t exactly working when he tries to figure out why the dude at the coffee shop is yelling at him.  Or when his best friend (and boss) tells him that he’s not going to being coming around any longer.  And it certainly isn’t helping with the fact that every time Terry (the best friend/boss) touches his arm or neck he gets all shivery…and he doesn’t know why.  But luckily what the internet doesn’t know maybe his therapist will.  Or if all else fails, he can call his sister.  Though, he is kinda hoping to avoid all-else failing.

Well wrap me in yarn and call me kitten…I so absolutely adored this story.  It was just lovely–and a little sad.  But the sad gives way to happy, fluffy feelings, so I don’t mind all that much.

I’ll admit it took me a page or two to really get Reuben (he came across as a bit of an ass until I finally understood why he was acting that way), but once I did I fell in love.  Reuben is not normal.  He doesn’t get non-verbal clues, has a hard time figuring other people out, and only lets a select few into his life.  He’s a lot like me, to be honest.  Well, I’m sure there are several key differences (*cough* cock *cough*), but there is a lot in him that I really understand.  And I loved how the story lets me just enjoy the crazy ride with him.  You can totally see all the clues he is missing, but you also really understand why he is missing them.

Which brings me to my gripe: Terry, you dick, you could have just told him!  I mean, you’ve known the dude for what, five years?, and yet you still don’t get that he sometimes needs the emotional shit explained to him?  I get that it sucks falling for a guy you think is straight, and who is missing what you feel is the giant “I Want To Make Hot Sexy Love To You” sign flashing over your head, but Reuben isn’t going to see it unless you point it out, and then decode it for him.  (/end rant)

This may have been the first story by John C. Houser that I have read, but it is not going to be the last.  This short story was cute, and melancholy, and just the right amount of sweet tension, that I really really didn’t want it to end. It probably did end a scene too soon for me (what, we don’t even get a kiss? No shower sex?  Not hot valentine-card reward blow-job? nothing?), but then I could have read a whole novel with these two and it wouldn’t have been enough.  Just good.  Just really really good.

RATING:  

BUY LINKS: Dreamspinner