Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  The Mating of Michael

SERIES:  Sex in Seattle

AUTHOR:   Eli Easton

PUBLISHER:  Self Published

LENGTH:  240 pages

RELEASE DATE:  January 30, 2020

BLURB:  

Everyone admires Michael Lamont for being a nurse, but his part-time work as a gay sex surrogate not only raises eyebrows, it’s cost him relationships. Michael is small, beautiful, and dedicated to working with people who need him. But what he really wants is a love of his own. He spends most of his time reading science fiction, especially books written by his favorite author and long-time crush, the mysteriously reclusive J.C. Guise.

James Gallway’s life is slowly but inexorably sliding downhill. He wrote a best-selling science fiction novel at the tender age of eighteen, while bedridden with complications of polio. But by twenty-eight, he’s lost his inspiration and his will to live. His sales from his J.C. Guise books have been in decline for years. Wheelchair bound, James has isolated himself, convinced he is unlovable. When he is forced to do a book signing and meets Michael Lamont, he can’t believe a guy who looks like Michael could be interested in a man like him.

Michael and James are made for each other. But they must let go of stubbornness to see that life finds a way and love has no limitations.

REVIEW:

Note:  While technically the third book in this series, it can be read as a stand alone with only minor spoilers for book 1.

Michael is a home care nurse and a gay sex surrogate working with a practice in Seattle.  He loves helping his patients – from both practices.  He has a couple of regular patients that he cares for a great deal – Marnie, his saucy elderly former burlesque entertainer and Tommy, a burn victim that visits weekly and provide message and touch therapy.  He’s also taken on a new patient, Lem, who has all sorts of social anxiety and deeply ingrained hang-ups about sex in general thanks to his very religious and controlling mother.  At first Lem can barely even be in the same room with Michael.  But Michael loves helping people and he and Dr. Halloran (who we met in Book 1 of this series) work on a plan to help Lem.  While Michael loves his work, he wishes he could have a life of his own.  He has had trouble with other guys understanding and accepting his surrogacy job and it usually is a deal breaker.  So he makes due with his patients and his love of reading – particularly Sci-fi.

James Gallway, aka author J.C. Guise is a recluse.  After suffering with polio as a child, he’s left in a wheelchair. He feels like he’s half a man.  His first book, written when he was eighteen, was a sensation.  But he has somehow lost his writing mojo and he’s not doing too well in the rest of his life either.  Not much social life, finances teetering on the edge, etc., he’s forced into doing a book signing by his agent to drum up some enthusiasm for his upcoming release.  And it’s there that he meets Michael – a true fan-boy!  He’s intrigued, but he is completely unconvinced that Michael could be interested in him as a man.  When they next meet, he lashes out at Michael, leaving the younger man a bit bruised.  But Michael is convinced to try to make contact one last time.  And James finally gives in to let Michael in just a little bit.  And only as a friend.

Michael is willing to accept what James can offer. He knows there is a story there, but James usually clams up when anything gets to difficult or painful for him.  Michael continues to exude patience as he plans outings for them – being always cognizant of James’ needs.  As they begin to develop a real friendship, James and Michael both have more difficulty keeping things in the friend zone.  When things move beyond the friend zone, James still has a lot of insecurities and Michael is reluctant to share his other job with James lest James get the idea that somehow Michael sees him as a patient or worse, a challenge.

Things seem to be going really well and then James is rocked by a couple of really unexpected developments.  A blast from James’ past throws him completely off balance.  Then Michael is called on an emergency and can’t be there for James just when James needs him most.  Secrets are revealed and trust is lost.  Luckily both Michael and James have cheering sections of family and friends who want what’s best for both of them.  It’s a very hard won battle with these two resulting in a completely beautiful and worthy ending.

This is absolutely one of my favorite Eli Easton books.  It was probably one of the first ones I read and I jumped at the chance for a comfort re-read for this review.  Michael is hands down one of the best characters ever.  His compassion and empathy is just so beautifully and sensitively written – particularly in the scenes with his surrogacy patients and James.  His ability to see people beyond the surface – with all their flaw and foibles and fears is just remarkable.  James is so very broken.  The way the flashbacks to his childhood and the trauma he faced was shared was just so well done.  We completely understand his inability to trust and his abandonment issues.  In his experience, clearly it’s better not to get attached, because everyone always leaves. Michael is really the first person to see that and work with the fears and insecurities that James has.  Michael’s patience and kindness towards his patients and James is just so amazing.  What a truly wonderful person.

One of the other fantastic things in this book are the secondary characters.  There is not ONE that is not three dimensional.  Whether it’s the hilarious and lovingly portrayed patients, co-workers or family, there was never a question of who these people really are and what place they have in the lives of these two very different men.  Marnie and Lem were perfectly rendered.  Tommy and his mother were just so poignant.  Michael’s mother was the best! Honestly, I absolutely adored everything about this book – except the title!  Every time I see it, I think of shifters!

RATING:

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