Reviewed by Amber
TITLE: The Lifeguard and the Geek
AUTHOR: Jamie Urban
PUBLISHER: Liquid Silver Books
LENGTH: 78 pages
BLURB:
If a sexy, straight lifeguard and a closeted, virginal geek can get past their fears they might have a shot to turn their unlikely friendship into a scorching-hot chance at true love. The Lifeguard and the Geek by Jamie Urban proves that sometimes best friends make the best lovers!
A virgin and in the closet, graphic novelist Griffin Parks visits California for work and instead finds himself face-to-face with sexy ex-pro surfer Drew Lynch. A card-carrying geek, Griffin knows he has zero chance with the straight and handsome Drew.
Lifeguard Drew Lynch is between girlfriends and oddly enchanted by sweet, awkward Griffin. Secretly bi-curious, but never enough to act on his same sex interests, Drew seeks Griffin out, drawn to the guy in a way he’s never been to anyone before.
The more time Griffin spends with Drew, the more he likes the man behind the outgoing lifeguard persona. And with each day Drew shares with Griffin, his sexual curiosity about men, and Griffin in particular, ignites a little more.
Both men notice each other and like what they see, but each is skittish about rocking the boat. Can this lifeguard and geek let go of their fears enough to reveal their deepest secrets and desires? Do Griffin and Drew dare risk their friendship for a shot at true love?
REVIEW:
I am a huge fan of Cameron Dane. So, when I heard she was branching out and trying something a little different in the m/m genre I have to say I was without a doubt interested. The idea behind the Jamie Urban pen name is the fact that these stories will not be as angsty, deep/dark, or sexually explicit as regular Cameron Dane stories.
With that said, I have to say I do prefer Cameron Dane stories. This book was just incredibly average. I wanted it to blow me out of the water and it just didn’t.
Griffin is a graphic novelist who is working with a friend to help branch his books out more. This friend invites him to a BBQ to relax and meet his roommates. One of the roommates, Drew, immediately comes over and introduces himself. You can tell something is up with him. His showing all the signs of being interested in Griffin but Drew’s straight, he can’t possibly be interested.
Lo and behold, Drew has always had a fleeting interest in the same sex and something is pulling him to Griffin.
Griffin is, for lack of better words, a nerd. He’s never had a boyfriend or even a love interest. He’s also never had sex. So, he is very much confused by this attention from Drew.
The relationship that these two build is sweet. They become friends and it involves into something more. There isn’t any of the hot and heavy multiple sex scenes that we’re use to from Cameron Dane books. This is a one decent sex scene story and it’s not a bad scene but it doesn’t make up for some of the other areas that lacked.
The only way I can describe the writing in the story is, amateurish. You read phrases and other descriptors that are common in authors that are new to the m/m genre. The kinds of phrases that make you cringe.
I can’t really put my finger on one huge deficiency this story had, I just think it was a combination of several things that I just didn’t care for. This one was just an ok read for me and I’m sad to say it.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS: