Reviewed by Kat

TITLE: Textual Relations

AUTHOR: Cate Ashwood

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 122 Pages

RELEASE DATE: August 6, 2017

BLURB:

Evolutionary psychology professor Henry Hathaway is ready to spend his birthday the same way he does every year: a good teeth cleaning followed by lunch with his brother. But when he receives a wrong-number text confirming the details of a date, he does what any considerate person would—he goes to meet them and explain why they’ve been stood up.

Asher Wescott hadn’t expected his blind date to go well, because when do they ever? Henry shows up instead, and things are suddenly looking up. Socially awkward and attached to his routines, Henry is nevertheless one of the most charming and kind men Asher has met in a long time.

Too bad he’s not Henry’s type.

An accidental date, an impulsive kiss, and a few conflicted feelings later, can Asher get Henry to see the world—and him—in a different light?

REVIEW:

I really loved this story and couldn’t set it down.

Henry Hathaway is a text book copy of what it means to be scheduled and have an exact routine, if you were look at him clinically. I would say, just like his brother Calvin would, that he is stuck in a rut and so set in his ways he can’t function otherwise! But, that all changes on his 32^nd birthday when he receives a wrong number text. Being the responsible person he is, he goes and meets the young woman, Ash, that sent him the text, to explain so she won’t felt stood up for her blind date. Much to his surprise, Ash is actually Asher and she is a he! They wind up talking and then going on a walk together, way out of Henry’s norm! When the end of the evening ends with a kiss Henry is shocked and then realizes that Ash is gay and this was a date. “Textual Relations” is the story of what Henry discovers in that kiss and what he is going to do with that knowledge.

Henry is so bright yet so socially inept and awkward and pretty naïve. It makes him so adorable. I wasn’t sure how this story was going to come about. Henry is straight and has always been so. Then I realized that all his awkwardness probably came to be because he was so lacking in self-awareness. Yes he his a college professor at University of Washington in their psychology department but I have found that some really bright people are extremely book smart but lack basic common sense knowledge and skills. That is why I am sure he was so regimented. Asher was the perfect guy for him. He is kind, caring, patient and the perfect choice to help Henry out of his cocoon. But then again, Henry is the perfect person to help Asher settle down a bit in life! They bring out the best in each other and help them grow.

Usually I beg for more in my books when I fall for the characters but I must say I think that the author got this just right! I felt like I had their whole story and didn’t feel rushed. I highly recommend this wonderful book.

RATING:

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