Reviewed by Marieke
TITLE: Knight of Ocean Avenue
AUTHOR: Tara Lain
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 254 pages
BLURB:
How can you be twenty-five and not know you’re gay? Billy Ballew runs from that question. A high school dropout, barely able to read until he taught himself, Billy’s life is driven by his need to help support his parents as a construction worker, put his sisters through college, coach his Little League team, and not think about being a three-time loser in the engagement department. Being terrified of taking tests keeps Billy from getting the contractor’s license he so desires, and fear of his mother’s judgment blinds Billy to what could make him truly happy.
Then, in preparation for his sister’s big wedding, Billy meets Shaz—Chase Phillips—a rising-star celebrity stylist who defines the word gay. To Shaz, Billy embodies everything he’s ever wanted—stalwart, honest, brave—but even if Billy turns out to be gay, he could never endure the censure he’d get for being with a queen like Shaz. How can two men with so little in common find a way to be together? Can the Stylist of the Year end up with the Knight of Ocean Avenue?
REVIEW:
Billy Ballew is a hero, plain and simple. He takes care of his parents, put his sister through college and volunteers as a coach on a little league team. But he’s unhappy, even if he won’t admit it. He dates girls, tries to like them and be a good boyfriend. Girls love him because he’s relationship material and looks hot as hell, yet they never seem to last. Then one day, as his latest girlfriend dumps him in a coffee shop, he saves a guy from getting gay bashed.
The guy is Shaz, and Billy can’t get him out of his head. Shaz on the other hand has a boyfriend and thinks he should be the one. But when Billy is coerced into going to Shaz’s styling studio, they hit it off.
To make a long story short, Billy is totally in the closet but if anyone could get him out, it’s Shaz. And this is a long story, a good one not one that drags on. There’s a lot of side stories to keep it interesting–– although one of them confused me a couple of times. Mostly I L.O.V.E.D this story. Billy is the sweetest, toughest teddy bear anyone can find. Shaz might be a flaming queen, but he’s got balls!
The one thing I didn’t like, was how extremely easy everything just worked out in the end, and that after such a long and hard road. The thing with Giles and Mitch made me a bit antsy… you’ll have to read it to understand why. As it is such a great story, I don’t want to give away anything. The only reason I took off one star is because the ending was too easy and Giles made me sick. Otherwise this is a must read, now.
Shaz is perfect for Billy. Patient, strong, funny, sexy and smart. Billy is just a doll. Okay maybe not a doll, but more like a huge action figure with a tiny heart of gold. He’s not perfect, but he just tries to help everyone he can and in my book that’s the best person you can be. Yes, he’s scared to death about coming out, and he hides and can’t make a decision if his life depended on it. But he tries.
RATING: 
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