Trouble & The Wallflower

Title:  Trouble & the Wallflower

Author:  Kade Boehme

Publisher:  Dreamspinner Press

Length:  200 pages

Rating:  B+

Quad Shot of Love

Blurb:  Raised in near seclusion by an agoraphobic mother, Davy Cooper’s social skills are almost nonexistent. Now that his mother has died, he needs to make friends for the first time in his life. He catches Gavin Walker’s eye, but the sexy, confident, bad boy hipster intimidates shy Davy so much that he throws away Gavin’s number every time he offers it.

When Gavin defends Davy from a rude guy, Davy begins to warm to him. However, with his limited experience, he thinks he and Gavin are too different, and anything more than a casual acquaintance will end in complete disaster.

Review:  What a fantastic book. An original story with familiar themes delivered in an easy and romantic style. I began amused and comfortable with a sweet bit of sexy fluff about opposites attracting. But as we moved further into both men’s lives and stories I found depths and struggles that pulled me in and kept me engaged. Loved watching them both fall so hard and fast. Seeing how different their inner voices were from what their outer persona led people to believe.

Davy really is sweet and shy and utterly charming. Kind, patient, compassionate, generous and completely socially inept. Except he’s not. Once he gets comfortable and feels safe to open up he’s strong when he needs to be and gentle when you need him to be. He has a voice and opinions and needs and while he is able to put other people first he knows how to make his own desires heard.

Gavin is such a mix of spoiled boy, tough guy act and sweet man. A loyal friend and an honorable man. Most see how he takes his pleasure where he finds it and have written him off as a slut. There is more to Gavin than he allows most people to see. I’m glad that I was allowed to see the man behind the mask to the gentle romantic he hides so well.

Gavin had a rough and abusive childhood with an alcoholic mother. Thank God for his grandfather, Ray. You can see so much of Ray’s influence in every area of Gavin’s life.

Davy’s agoraphobic mother created such a sheltered and restricted childhood that shy Davy was at a loss in how to deal with a steamroller like Gavin. Luckily Gavin isn’t nearly as heartlessly carefree as he likes to pretend and the men quickly find themselves falling in love.

It was mushy and touching, at times even poetic, to see the other man through the growing love of each man’s perspective as we were able to spend time in both Davy and Gavin’s heads. I adored that Gavin turned out to be such a big emotional softie when it came to Davy, Ray and Ollie.

There was so much character development in this complicated, sad, messy and beautiful story. I enjoyed every moment and was so glad I was able to spend a Saturday morning with Davy and Gavin. Having fun with their friends and getting to meet Ray and Ollie. Watch them heal each other’s hurts and become stronger, wiser and braver men than they believed possible. They made their Grandpa Ray proud.

A great read full of heart, loyalty, emotion, family, humor, growing up, letting go of the past, taking chances and opening your heart. I smiled, laughed, teared up, got mad, frustrated and celebrated with them. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Nina