A.J. Truman

This is exactly what it purports to be: a second chance nerd/jock romance.

Sure, I found it annoyingly silly at times - it seemed like Truman was looking for corny embellishments and sidebars to poke into the story at every turn. Too much!

After a while I took it as a lesson for me to lighten up and embrace it. I could certainly do with it.

Nerdy Amos and jock Hutch knew each other in high school - they were going to go to the prom together, but Hutch didn't show. If ever there was a fire to be relit it was this one - they make each other laugh.

Would they have gone looking for each other if Hutch, a professional soccer player, didn't return as a coach to the school where Amos now teaches? that's not clear. It's seven years since they last saw each other. Oh the spectre of what might not have been!

This is my eighth read from A.J. Truman, first in South Rock High series, but I've returned to Single Dads Club, and Browerton University, whenever I need that lightness, though I think generally those novels have had a little more meat on their bones, drama between the silliness.

On Library Thing I usually swap the cover over to the one matching the book I've read, but this time I won't. Both of the guys could be Hutch, and both guys are wearing the same shirt, but on the other cover, the subject is poorly cropped and lit, Truman's name is barely readable, the globe is a great touch here, as is the warm apricot script, and the guy adds a whole lot to Hutch's sex appeal!

Only the good title drew me in on the other cover. My hat goes off to the graphic designer who has taken the cover in hand and made it glow!… (meer)

Love this Browerton series - I've met so many serious, passionate young folks who are doing a lot of growing up, learning about themselves, making friends and becoming lovers.

This is the story of Mac and Gideon. Gideon, the brash New Yorker, who is a generous spirit and, as fearful as he is to go there, is open to his unexpected attraction to Mac; and Mac, who came out of the closet in high school, bringing bullying down upon himself and worst of all, losing his parents, something that leaves a huge hurt in his life.

These two very young men stand up for each other, they care for each other ... it's beautiful.… (meer)

There's no doubt this series is corny, but it does have its hilarious and romantic moments. And there's heaps of witty banter, which is my weakness. Nick Russo is superb at teasing out every ounce of humour from the text.

Cal is a total character - an ex-actor now grocery store worker who is also running his own business doing voice overs in his sound studio. Russ is a meticulously organised finance guy who runs the scouting club, the Falcons. His son is a member, and Cal's son wants to join. Hence, the two dads are thrown together.

Cal is messy and chaotic, but cool. Russ is hot but not cool - as Cal says, he's as cool as a flat cola. Everyone loves the friendly helpful Cal, and he is empathetic enough to pick up on the fact that underneath it all Russ is a caring guy.

Only a Cal could excavate the fun that lies buried in the strict, picky Russ - who of course is disciplined enough to have a great body - that would be Cal's reward!

The joy of this story lies in the tension between opposites.

This is my fifth A J Truman - 3 of these are from the Browerton University series and they have all been great.… (meer)

A cute story where Coop is a G-rated gigolo - he's hired by women students who need him to make potential boyfriends jealous at parties, and so on!

Coop, who was known as String Cheese at high school, transformed his body and "outed" his personality, when he began college life, at Browerton.

Kelvin asks Coop to distract an A student, Matty. This ploy is to help Kelvin rise on the "curve" in the robotics class. Coop, of course, is very good at this task, taking Matty to a party and generally charming his nerdy target.

But it turns out that the String Cheese who lives under the attractive surface of Coop identifies with and admires Matty. The friendship and love story that follow brings pure joy to each of them. But you can see what's coming.

Matty and his friends meet once a week to play The Settlers of Catan - haven't heard of this game but I'd love to play it.

"Out for the night" is the chorus line of the rap song that Evan Cooper sings to win Matty back. It's a great song AJ Truman! Well done!

Narrator Alexander Cendese was born to bring Coop to life.… (meer)