Reviewed by Ro
TITLE: Too Hot To Hold
AUTHOR: Andrew Grey
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 102 pages
RELEASE DATE: April 11, 2023
BLURB:
Gay burlesque performer, Noel West, had dreams of dancing professionally, but an injury sidelined him. He’s wary of other people, largely because of his profession. When David offers him a ride in a blizzard, he cautiously accepts, expecting a come-on. David is a gentleman, however, and that quickly gets past Noel’s defenses.
David Hunter is a trust-fund kid and a lawyer. Seeing Noel, he offers a ride because no one should be out on a frigid night. He has no idea what Noel does until he refers to it in a snappy comeback, which leads David to return and see the show. He’s captivated by Noel in a way he never thought possible and decides to try to get Noel’s attention… the old-fashioned way: he woos him.
When Noel’s club is raided on trumped-up charges, he calls for help, and David answers. But even as Noel starts to realize that David may be everything he appears to be, he’s still skeptical. Especially when he learns David’s father has political ambitions that Noel’s relationship with David seems to threaten. David will need to navigate family drama to prove to Noel that his feelings are true and that he really is his prince charming.
REVIEW:
Noel and David couldn’t be less similar. Noel is a gay burlesque dancer who has to fend off very unwanted advances often. David is a rich attorney who has to fend off the obnoxiousness of his social climber parents. You wouldn’t think this couple would work and at first, they don’t. David offers Noel a ride home on a nasty cold day and Noel, having just fended off a disgusting advance, responds poorly but David wasn’t expecting anything. He was just being kind, which is a big part of his personality. That’s where the two men are similar – both are kind, though Noel keeps his softness hidden better.
Noel’s goal had been to be a professional dancer but he was injured and ended up doing burlesque as he struggles to pay his way through college. He doesn’t have family and is all on his own. He is ripe for someone to care about him. When the club where Noel is dancing is raided, David is the one Noel calls.
I loved the developing relationship between Noel and David and appreciated that it wasn’t insta-love. What wasn’t as easy to read was David’s interactions with his parents. What a piece of work, especially his father. Daddy is running for Senate and has been very open, not to say showboating, about his gay son. That is, until the gay son actually has someone. Then he morphs into Daddy Dearest. What a poisonous man.
Despite the drama and unpleasantness that is David’s family, this story is sweet. I liked watching Noel and David realize there might be someone worth fighting for.
RATING: 
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