The Dating Game

Title:  The Dating Game

Author:  Jay Northcote

Publisher:  Jay Northcote

Length:  103 pages

Rating:  B+

Quad Shot of Love

 

Blurb:  Five sex-free dates—how hard can it be?

When they were at uni, Owen always had a bit of a crush on Nathan. But Nathan was apparently straight, and Owen was too busy with other guys to take his crush seriously.

When Nathan moves back to Bristol after a year away, Owen hears that Nathan has come
out of the closet, and he propositions him. Nathan doesn’t want to be just another notch
on Owen’s bedpost, though, so he challenges Owen to prove he can be serious: five dates
before they have sex.

Owen doesn’t think that sounds too difficult. He’s expecting Nathan to find his charms
irresistible anyway. But as they grow closer, Owen begins to care more about proving
himself to Nathan than he does about getting him into bed.

 

Review:  This story is so much fun. These guys will pull you in and charm you from the beginning. I wanted them to make it past the fifth date and into forever.

Owen has always been very casual about his dating and sex life. He takes his pleasure where he finds it and is always at the center of the party. He’s had his eye on Nathan since they were at school together, but kept his hands off since Nathan was straight. When Nathan comes back to town, and is now wonderfully touchably gay, Owen jumps at the chance to try out some of those fantasies. Except Nathan isn’t looking for casual hook ups, he wants a relationship and he doesn’t think that Owen is capable of a serious relationship. Challenge accepted.

Nathan has the best of intentions when he shoots Owen down. He knows that he won’t do well as one of Owen’s leftovers, but he didn’t mean to create such a challenge or to make their dating a game. But then he starts to have fun as he gets to know Owen in new ways and sees a guy who maybe is more than the party reputation has led him to believe.

These guys are sweet and the development of their relationship was well done. The fact that they have known each other and moved in the same circle for years makes their fast fall believable. I really enjoyed their dates and found what each man chose for his turns to be quite revealing.

A fast and fun read with a large helping of sexual tension, romance and love.

Reviewed by Nina