Reviewed by Amber
TITLE: Blowing Off Steam
AUTHOR: Joy Lynn Fielding
PUBLISHER: Samhain Publishing
LENGTH: 184 pages
BLURB:
Two guys, a train, and lots of steam.
Sam Chancellor has been in love with the steam engine Old Bess since he was six years old. Well, maybe not literally, but even when he’s lost everything else in his life, he’s always had her. But now her place in his heart has been unexpectedly challenged. Her new driver, Ryan Saunders, is the embodiment of all Sam’s fantasies.
Ryan has written off Sam as just another geeky trainspotter—until the moment Ryan sees him without his usual shapeless hoodie, and realizes that for a nerd, Sam’s pretty built.
When Ryan overlooks Sam’s awkwardness long enough to suggest a hook-up, Sam seizes the opportunity—and Ryan—with both very eager hands. Finding common ground in their shared love of Bess, their time together is better than Sam ever dared dream.
But there’s a reason Ryan never talks about his past. And when Ryan’s job is threatened, Sam’s well-meaning intervention puts both Ryan and Bess in deadly danger.
REVIEW:
This was such a friggin cute story. I love stories that have a character who’s totally jaded, jilted, cup half empty personality then see that whole mentality shift when outside factors prove there’s still so much good in the world. I will admit that the train facts and obsession kind of dragged for me but I loved Sam’s excitement. His joy for trains was contagious and absolutely endearing.
Sam Chancellor has always been the oddball. The one that sat on the outside and was looking in at all the excitement in life and that hasn’t changed in adulthood. The one thing that has changed was his appearance. He decided awhile back to start working out really just to pass the time but it made him fill out and maybe gave him a little self confidence. What hasn’t changed is his love for trains and one train in particular, Old Bess. He regularly goes to watch Bessie on the track and it doesn’t hurt that train engineer is a total hottie.
Ryan Saunders comes from money. Lots of money but his upbringing resulted in a spoiled, entitled, brat. He’s trying to right past wrongs. He’s essentially cut off from his family and jumps at the chance to drive Bessie and he’s good at it. Really good at it and on top of that he loves it and it gives him something that’s been missing his whole life, a sense of worth and satisfaction. He’s noticed the frumpy guy that is always at the station but never really paid any attention to him. He was always dressed in huge baggy clothes so he never really focused on him. One evening Sam took off his hoodie and it opened Ryan’s eyes to all that was underneath the clothes including Sam’s heart.
I really enjoyed this story, yes some parts dragged but I connected to both Sam and Ryan. I understood Ryan’s fear of being hurt and letting anyone in. And I understood Sam’s naiveté. They were so well matched. This author did a great job with these two characters. I cared for them throughout the whole story and wanted them happy.
This is a new author to me and even though she is VERY English and I was confused quite a bit (I had to look up what a “Bacon Buttie” was) I’ll gladly read more of her books. Great writing, descriptive, very cute and enjoyable story!!
RATING: 
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