Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Mud and Lace
SERIES: Rainbow Place #4
AUTHOR: Jay Northcote
PUBLISHER: Jaybird Press
LENGTH: 226 pages
RELEASE DATE: April 25, 2019
BLURB:
When Wicksy falls for drag queen Charlie, they discover that both sexuality and gender can be fluid.
Simon Wicks—Wicksy to his rugby teammates—has only ever been interested in women. But when he sets eyes on Lady Gogo, a drag queen who performs at Rainbow Place, he can’t stop thinking about her. He knows there’s a guy behind the fishnets and make-up, but he’s ready to explore his fantasies, and Lady Gogo is game for making them come true.
Charlie adores performing in drag. It allows him to indulge in his love of cross-dressing while earning some extra cash. Fooling around with a mostly straight guy in secret seems like a fun diversion, and gives him the chance to explore his feminine side. He feels safe wearing the mask of his confident alter ego, because the real Charlie is hidden from view.
When Wicksy sees more of the guy behind the make-up and glitter, his attraction to Charlie persists, and he realises he’s bisexual. In turn, Charlie begins to understand and accept his gender fluidity. As their mutual journey of self-discovery brings them closer, the secrecy becomes increasingly hard to deal with. If they’re going to have a future together, they both need to find the courage to show people who they really are.
Although this book is part of a linked series, it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone.
REVIEW:
I had kind of a hard time with this one at first. Not really anything bad, I suppose, but I think it just hit me wrong. I was a lot like Wicks friend, Cam, when I saw that Charlie was being kept a secret and made to dress like a girl. You’ll see what I mean. Everyone has to come out in their own time and own way. And no one has the right to push anyone in anyway. It just hurt me for Charlie. But what’s a story without a little angst?
Wicksy has been watching Lady Gogo with rapt attention from the first time he saw her. The drag queen captivated him like no other. But what Wicksy needs to remember, is what’s under the dress and makeup. At first, it’s a thrill for both of them. They seem to enjoy the sexual tension and fantasies, but soon it’s becoming more for both of them. And Charlie is afraid to get hurt. Because he is the one having to do all the sneaking to keep Wicksy’s cover. But Wicksy has decided to come out, once he’s realized how it’s affecting both of them. But an accident leaves Wicksy unable to do so yet, and Charlie is afraid to rock the boat. Now they both have to decide what’s important in their lives. Each other, or neither.
Like I said, for me, it’s all about Charlie. For me, it hurt because no one should be anyone’s dirty little secret. But I felt for Wicksy too. Because identifying straight and then falling for a boy, is kind of a mind trip, to put it mildly. And everyone has to come out in their own time or not at all. But if not at all, then it should be up to the other person to back out if they don’t want to be kept quiet. So, it’s a complicated arrangement. I want the best for both of them so much, because they just seem perfect for each other. They want the same things from each other and are happy they can be themselves with each other. Charlie can be the femme he is and Wicksy gets kind of the best of both worlds. Not that that’s demeaning to Charlie. Charlie actually loves being able to be who he feels like being at any moment. So it is a good thing. They just have to get the rest worked out where they don’t have to be secrets.
It’s a good story. There’s a HEA, so no worries there. But it does have the angst, because both of them have a lot to work through on their own selves, not to mention each other. But it’s good.
RATING: 
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