Richard Natale

Frank and Anthony Ragucci are cousins who basically grew up as brothers. They're closer to each other than to anyone else. They also happen to both be gay. When they go into business together, they have one important rule: never get involved with a client. But Anthony breaks that rule with Hunter Reese, an attractive and on-the-rise attorney. Frank is skeptical but supportive, and even agrees to meet Hunter's friend, Robert Burke, only to quickly learn the two of them aren't compatible at all. But Hunter and Robert are like brothers, too, and the protective instincts that Frank feels for Anthony aren't all that different from those Robert feels for Hunter--and the two quickly end up at odds. Maybe they have more in common than they thought...

I really struggled to get through this one. The whole first chapter was dreadfully dry and so much of this story is all telling rather than showing. There's a definite detachment from the characters for the reader. I totally got that Frank and Anthony are like the best, most magical golden boys that ever walked this earth (really, it get laid on rather thick). And then there were the relationship dynamics. Anthony and Hunter go from 0 to 120 in less than a second without any context that makes sense at all. There's no explanation at all for Robert's change of heart. And the dialogue often felt quite stilted and manufactured rather than seeming like a natural conversation that would take place.

Overall, I feel like this was an interesting idea. It just wasn't executed in a way that made the story very believable or interesting to read.

[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]… (meer)

I was received a copy of The Rushes by Richard Natale from LibraryThing’s Early Reviewer program in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a quick, easy to read romp through the trials and tavails of two up-and-comers in Hollywood. You follow Jamie and Carson as they try to achieve their dreams: have fufilling love lives and become a sucessful filmaker duo. In fact, this was two rather sweet gay romance stories with a secondary narrative focus on their professional development.

As a side note, the author clearly knows a great deal about the in and outs of Hollywood and itsn't afraid to show it, but since I've never been to L.A. I'm afraid a lot of that information flew right over my head.… (meer)

I was fortunate enough to receive a copy of The Rushes by Richard Natale from LibraryThing’s Early Reviewer program. The author’s knowledge of all things Hollywood is evident in this entertaining book. While all the scenes of the industry are engrossing, they never detract from the story of two wanna-be filmmakers navigating the shark-infested waters of Tinsel Town. Both Jamie and Carson are basically good guys, Jamie more so than Carson, but both have genuine talent. As the world knows, that is not enough to succeed and it takes connections, which they also have in their former professor David. While the eventual pairings are not seriously in doubt, it was fun to watch the foibles of the main characters, with enough morality examples to make us hopeful nice guys don’t finish last. A fun, fast read.… (meer)