Book Name: Out of the Gate

Author Name: EM Lynley

Author Links: https://www.facebook.com/emlynley?ref=tn_tnmn, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-EM-Lynley/146199905400403?ref=hl , http://www.pinterest.com/emlynley/

Twitter: @emlynley

Cover Artist: Reese Dante

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Blurb(s): British actor Wesley Tremayne thinks he’s close to hitting the big time—a film career—with his role as a hunky explorer on a popular American TV show. Success should be just around the corner, as long as he keeps his sexual orientation a secret. Wes’s best friend and beard, Julia Compton, forms the other half of a glamorous Hollywood couple that’s merely a façade.

Evan Taylor left his acting career behind five years ago without looking back. He’s always been more comfortable around horses than people—especially Hollywood types. His new life training racehorses is a dream come true, but increasing financial problems and an abusive boyfriend have him doubting himself and his choices.

Then Wes and his friends buy a third-rate racehorse—partially for publicity—and send him to Evan’s stable. Wes’s friendship with Evan soon develops into an overpowering attraction he can’t act on. He’s never met a man like Evan, but if there’s any chance for a future together, Wes must choose between a career he loves and the man he adores.

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Excerpt:

“I’m heading down to watch them saddle the horses so I can decide which one to bet on.” Vanessa gave them a dangerous wave of her talons and left Wes and Julia alone in the private grandstand box at Los Alamitos race track.

Julia gave the binoculars back to Wes. “He’s gorgeous.” She winked.

“Which one do you like?” Wes asked, again looking through the binoculars.

“I thought we were talking about which one you like?”

“Number four.” Wes glanced down at Julia’s head. She was a good six inches shorter, and it was the view he often had to settle for.

“Oh, really? I thought you’d go for one. Or at least his trainer.” She gave a silvery laugh and put her arm around his waist again.

Wes kept the glasses focused on runner number one’s trainer as he reached up to adjust the horse’s bridle. His navy sport coat rode up, giving Wes—and anyone else looking—a nice view of his arse in well-fitting dark-blue jeans. Wes held in the smile the sight induced and resigned himself to admiring the good-looking man from a distance. His light-brown hair fell in wavy curves and the full-lipped smile made Wes want to lick his own lips. Something about the chiseled chin and the shape of the man’s nose twigged a hazy memory Wes couldn’t quite bring to the surface.

REVIEW:

Reviewed by Vicki

I enjoyed this book! I was interested in reading it, as EM states in Author’s Note, I too was horse crazy as a kid. I read all of the Black Stallion books, collected Breyer horses, and KNEW someday I’d own a horse. I never did! I haven’t been on a horse in 30 years… but I still love them. I don’t know much about horse racing, a bit from my long ago reading of books, and just what I’ve seen on TV. So this was an education for me as well as a great read.

 

Wes Tremayne was an interesting character, he’s a young British actor, coming from stage acting in London to LA to be on a TV show. He’s a closeted gay man, hiding his inner self, and fake dating a costar. I always have trouble with a storyline like this, I want everyone to be free to be themselves, and I don’t like the deception. But unfortunately this is what happens. I don’t have to like it for it to be real. So Wes hides behind Julia, who is in on it, and knows what’s going on. Julia’s not too bad, but his other friends are a bit “Hollywood” for me. For Wes too apparently! They are at a racetrack one day, and get a wild hair and decide to buy a racehorse. Knowing virtually nothing about them! One of the group, Brent, knows a horse trainer named Evan and thinks he can convince Evan to accept their new toy as one of his horses. They buy the horse, and go to meet Evan.

 

Evan Taylor, former actor, current horse trainer, has some issues. They become clear as the story evolves, but one of his issues is his nasty boyfriend Greg. As we are supposed to do, I hated Greg immediately. Fortunately he wasn’t around much! Although he does cause a whole mess of trouble. So Evan has issues, is shy, a bit angry, knows Greg isn’t a good match for him, but seems desperate for love and attention. He gets some from Greg, but not the healthy kind. Greg heads out of town and barely notices he’s hurt Evan yet again. Evan runs out the front door as Greg leaves, only to meet the owners of his new horse to train. Wes and his friends….

 

What develops is a lovely friendship and eventually love, between Wes and Evan. I was a little concerned, I’m not a fan of stories that start out with cheating. Evan is still technically with Greg when their relationship starts, but EM skirts the edges of cheating and it was ok with me. So they become friends, then lovers, then boyfriends! Not giving away the plot there, it is a romance afterall! Their story is nice and I loved seeing Evan work past his issues. Wes also turns out to be a good guy, he’s sort of jerked out of the closet, he was heading out on his own, but maybe not so fast as it went. It also was ok, he needed to get out there and he does. Wes and Evan work well together as a couple and both work through some issues. The sex between them was slow to develop, as was appropriate considering one was still in a relationship with someone else. Once they do get together, it is very nice sweet.

 

Then there is the whole racing plotline. I enjoyed it! I learned quite a lot about horseracing, some good, some bad. It all seemed very realistic to me, well researched, and possibly a real thing that could happen. It gave me a good look at what goes on before and after a race, and all of the training and effort that goes in to horseracing. There are great extra characters in the book, I liked some and disliked others, exactly as I probably was meant to do. Even the horses will well done, having a bit of personality as well.

 

A very enjoyable book! I’ve not read much by EM Lynley, if I get the chance, I will read more from her!

 

RATING:

 

 

Tour Dates: June 6^th, 2014

 

Tour Stops:  Talon SO, Love Bytes, MM Good Books, My Fiction Nook, Prism Book Alliance,Top2Bottom 

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