Desperation Dancing by Cita Powers

Desperation Dancing by Cita Powers
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Erotic GLBT, M/M


Jaime's Top Pick for April!

Summary: Mike Polaski is a really good dancer and a decent human being who's had one hell of a run of bad luck in love. He has hopes things are looking up when Aladair Lovet waltzes into his dance class and his life. Then he finds out Alasdair already has a partner and Mike has to put his feelings for the man aside. When Alasdair's life is turned upside down by betrayal, Mike is there to help. Maybe he'll get the last dance, after all.

My Review: Well, I'm not sure if this book was actually billed as a mystery, but if it was, it wasn't very mysterious. Don't let that put you off, though. It really has a lot to recommend it. The crime plot was firmly in second place to the romance, which works for me. It was pretty linear and predictable, but it also wasn't given as much attention as the romance. The story very much centered on the characters.

Mike is just the kind of guy you want to take home to Mom. He was raised right and isn't ashamed to show it, nor was he ashamed to admit he wasn't perfect. Alasdair is very likeable, too, more in a lost puppy sort of way. The secondary characters, even the dog. (maybe especially the dog!) are clearly defined and likeable. Well, except the baddies, and they were pretty sketchy, but so was their plot.

What I found interesting about this plot is how closely it resembles a traditional straight romance plot, unusual for a quality gay romance, in my experience. When an author tries to follow the straight formula with two male leads, often one of the men comes off too – dare I say it – girly, but not this time. Both men are nicely male and enjoyable to read.

All of the pieces of this plot are neatly in place, like a jigsaw puzzle, fitting together perfectly for a picture perfect conclusion. Not really a surprise, because the picture is right there on the front of the box. Still, it's the emotional content of the book that really catches and holds the reader, and Mike is a perfect foil for it, passionate and obtuse at the same time, hard to pull off, but masterfully done. He was sympathetic enough, nice enough, sweet enough, for me to really want him to get his guy.

My Recommendation: I put this book in my bubble bath category. Perfect for a soak and a glass of wine, a feel good, lovely read, and worth the time.

Rated four Delightful Divas by Jaime!