Reviewed by Annika
TITLE: The Mating of Michael
SERIES: Sex in Seattle #3
AUTHOR: Eli Easton
NARRATOR: Michael Stellman
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 7 hours, 55 minutes
RELEASE DATE: July 17, 2015
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 18, while bedridden with complications of polio. But by 28, 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:
The Mating of Michael takes us to Seattle, to Michael a nurse and sex surrogate. He loves what he does, loves helping people but sometimes all he wants is someone for his own. Someone who loves all of him unconditionally, but that dream seems unattainable, so he gives his all to his patients, friends and family, and books. Michael loves reading, especially books by his favourite author, books that changed him in every way imaginable. And when said author is holding a public signing he’s first in line – well figuratively so. When they meet Michael’s crush takes on new proportions, James on the other hand can’t imagine what a beautiful and sexy man like Michael could possibly see in a cripple like him, so he pushes him away. But Michael is stubborn and from a budding friendship something more slowly grows between them.
There was a lot of focus on sex in this book, then again how could it not be – we followed a sex surrogate after all. However, it’s not the “let’s get hot and heavy” kind with pages and pages of on page and non-stop sex. It’s gentler and more intimate. Slowly easing into it (figuratively, and literally), more focused on touch, and making a connection. Focusing on the people and not so much the act, and I have to say it was beautifully done.
I tend to go out of my way to find books with characters with different types of disabilities, with survivors. Their strengths are always inspiring to me. Everyone deserves to be loved, no matter looks, social status or abilities and books like this give us that, reminds us of that. Reminds us that beyond the disability is a person with wants and needs.
I felt like the relationship between James and Michael was a bit uneven. Michael was the one to always give and give, making all the effort, going for the next step. He was constantly putting himself out there – for James and his patients. I mean I get it with his patients, that was his job, but he always went that extra mile and gave just a little bit more of himself than he got back. I desperately wanted someone to do the same for him, but no one really did.
There were some great side characters, but one truly outstanding; Marnie. I really loved her and would love to have someone like her in my life. Every one of Michael’s patients touched me in one way or another. They all had something that set them apart from others, some more visible than others, but they all had such a capacity for love, a need for touch and human interaction. And I just loved how Michael gave them that, how he truly saw them. For that alone this book is worth reading, because I promise you will not leave this book unmoved.
I enjoyed Michael Stellman’s narration, especially the emotions that he radiated from Michael’s patients, and Michaels patience with them, his need to help them. I think those were the times I enjoyed the most, the time he spent with patients. Take Lem as an example, a man deep in the closet and afraid of touch, any kind of touch. I loved how Michael worked with him, how Stellman made you feel Lem’s anxiety of touch, of sex, he made you feel the triumph when he managed to touch Michael’s hand and celebrate with them both. I think a lot of that was due to Stellman’s low and quiet voice that so fit the situation, but also Michael’s personality. All in all it was all nicely done.
RATING: 
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