Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Beat
AUTHOR: Alexandra Caluen
PUBLISHER: self-published
LENGTH: 73,200 words
RELEASE DATE: October 23, 2023
BLURB:
A second-chance M/M romance novel about finding your groove.
Mateo de la Cruz expected to dance, drink, and maybe get picked up when he hit West Hollywood on his birthday. He didn’t expect to wake up with
an epic hangover, fully clothed, in the bed of the guy who gave him the best dance of the night.
Sam Lee didn’t expect the birthday boy to be such good company, especially not with a hangover. A day off together led to dinner, which led to going back to bed. It was perfect, which was scary. When Mateo left, Sam panicked. They didn’t see each other again for a year.
Then Mateo tracked Sam down again, to see if they could figure out why neither of them had been able to move on. And once they’d figured that
out, it was time to figure out their next moves.
REVISED EDITION Adult situations, themes, and language and a happy ending.
REVIEW:
Mateo goes out for his birthday to a dance club in WeHo. He’s gets really drunk and he dances with a gorgeous and sort of dangerous looking guy named Sam. They fit really well together. But Mateo gets really really drunk. Jules the bartender tells Sam to check on Mateo and he does. He takes him home rather than see him come to harm.
Mateo is really hungover, but he connects with Sam and they spend the day together. Neither has ever had such a connection on a first “date” as it were. But when Mateo reaches out to Sam, Sam doesn’t pick up. He doesn’t think he’s worthy of such a great guy as Mateo.
They spend a year pining after each other. Mateo, after taking to his sister finally hunts Sam down at his job. Sam has done some work on himself and he’s embarrassed that he didn’t pick up or return Mateo’s calls. They decide to try again – and well things go completely differently. They have missed each other a lot and they each have made a lot of progress in their own lives and their own “growing up” so to speak in the intervening year. Neither is willing to let the other go again.
They meet the families. They move in. Sam opens up about his past. They begin dancing together for earl – ballroom dance. They work out together. Sam’s friends becoming Mateo’s friends. They fit really well into each others lives despite their outward differing appearances. And they make a life together. There are ups and downs, but they fit 🙂 Then there are the Gay Games competitions!
Last year I read a holiday novel by this author that I really enjoyed. When I was offered a revised novel that had been published a decade ago, I decided to take a chance. I’m glad I did. It was another enjoyable story about two men who, while from very different worlds, connect so well. And one of their connections is through dance. It seems like this author has a real love of ballroom and of queer characters. The couple from another book in the series this book is set in are supporting characters here and friends of Sam. Sam and Mateo are very different people They both grow and change in this book and become better people both separately and together. The story is told from both POVs which I really appreciated. Each chapter moves the story forward in their lives which provides a clear timeline. I loved the discussion and view of the Gay Games and the dance progressions. Really a delightful romance. Recommended.
RATING: 
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