The Boy Who Came In From the Cold

May 29, 2013 by Whit!!!!!!!!!

Title : The Boy Who Came In From the Cold

Author : B.G. Thomas

Publisher : Dreamspinner Press (BUY HERE)

Genre : M/M, Contemporary

Length : 284 pages (e-book)

Published : May 29, 2013

Rating : ★★★

Blurb:

Todd Burton has had enough of small-town Buckman. His abusive stepfather calls him a fag; his friend Austin makes him realize he may be gay, but Todd doesn’t want to admit his stepfather is right; and he dreams of being a chef. Three good reasons to flee his hometown and pursue greener pastures. But when Todd reaches the big city, his luck runs dry. Soon he can’t pay his rent and gets evicted. In the middle of a snowstorm.

Gabe Richards is a wealthy businessman with enough wounds of his own to make him afraid of ever being intimate again. But when he sees Todd outside his building, freezing to death, he takes pity on him and takes him in from the cold.

To their mutual surprise, Todd and Gabe find themselves drawn to each other. “One night” turns into a week. Maybe letting a man in from the cold can melt the ice around Gabe’s heart—and maybe getting evicted will turn Todd’s luck around.

Review:

I generally like a Cinderella type story and this was that. Very sweet and insta love story about a boy who doesn’t realize he’s gay until his life is turned upside down.

Todd is literally out in the worst snow storm of the year. Newly kicked out of his home with nothing but what he has on him. He takes refuge from the cold in the doorway of an apartment building. He’s trying to decide what the hell he’s going to do when a kind stranger,Gabe, offers him something to eat and drink. He also propositions him like he’s a prostitute for a roof over his head. Todd is offended and shocked . He’s not a hustler and he’s not gay! He gets offensive and slings the “F” word, at Gabe. Gabe retreats to his apartment. When he’s gone, Todd starts to wonder if he shouldn’t have taken him up on his offer. He doesn’t have long to decide when the apartment manager tries to kick him out into the cold.

Gabe can’t believe he propositioned that kid. He’s torn between feeling despicable and pissed at what Todd said to him. A knock on the door takes the decision out of his hands. Todd is at the door saying he’s Gabe’s boyfriend and apologizing. Gabe gets that he’s desperate and lets him in. They talk a little and Gabe decides he wants to help the kid with no strings attached. After all, he was once in the same shoes as Todd.

This was maybe a little sweeter story than I usually like. There was very little angst. It’s basically a story about Todd realizing he IS in fact gay. Growing up in a small town with a very homophobic stepfather had him oblivious to his preference to men. Even though he’d messed around with his best friend and collecting body building magazines, and not for body building. He never really knew love until Gabe show him what it was like to be cared for.

Gabe was torn between his desires and doing the right thing. He was a pretty good guy with some regrets in his last relationship which lead to resisting starting a new one. He warmed to Todd very quickly however. I was happy to see he didn’t abuse the situation as I would have found it hard to like him if he had.

I don’t at all understand the obsession with the male musky smell fascination but these characters loved it. It kind of became a turn off after the first few mentions. Also, the constant back flashes from Todd’s stepfather calling him “faggot” pulled me out of the story. I understand it was meant to show his mentality but it was just too frequent for me. The Chaz storyline squicked me out a little. I don’t understand why anyone would think an underage kid who was sexually abused calling you Daddy while coming onto you was a good idea or sexy. Todd also seemed very naive and younger than his twenty years which didn’t help me warm to the coupling.

Peter was a great character. Very grand, wise and kind. I’d like to read about some of his exploits. So while I can’t say I loved this one, I think others may like it. If you’re in the mood for a sweet modern fairytale about a guy discovering he’s gay you might want to give this a go.

Rated 3 stars by Whit