Book review - Beau and the Beast by Rick R. Reed

I like reading and writing gay twists on old stories such as fairy tales (no pun intended).  It gives a familiar feel to a story while indulging in a guilty pleasure.  Like eating one more chocolate chip cookies than you know you should.  The tag line for Rick R. Reed’s Beau and the Beast caught my attention, as an updated gay story and I had to read it.  As I mentioned before, the plot line is familiar but there are some nice surprises along the way.

Beau is a starving artist (literally) on the mean streets of Seattle.  When he is beaten unconscious by two hoodlums, he wakes up in a glorious mansion, being cared for by a masked man who only calls himself “Beast”.  Beast is tortured by a past which Beau is eager to learn, but the masked man keeps his distance, urging Beau to leave as soon as he has healed from his injuries.

The story takes place over a few short days but it is plenty of time for the romance to build between two wounded men. 

I really enjoyed and recommend Beau and the Beast, a short, fun read.

Book review - "Third Eye" by Rick R. Reed

First, let me say I really liked this book. The paranormal aspect of the story is what caught my attention, of course, being an author of novels with similar themes.  In "Third Eye", Cayce (as in Edgar Cayce?) D’Amico, single gay father of Luke, gains strange abilities during a severe thunderstorm.  While looking for Luke, Cayce is struck by a falling branch when lightning strikes a tree next to him. 

Recovering in the hospital, Cayce begins to have ‘visions’. Two teenage girls have vanished from the small town of Fawcettville, Pennsylvania and the police are baffled.

Reluctantly, Cayce has to admit to himself the visions he sees in his heads are of the missing girls.  He contacts the local police detective with less than satisfactory results.  He decides to get in touch with one of the missing girls’ family with an even more disastrous outcome.  Not knowing what to do next, Cayce is surprised when the family of the second missing girl contacts him.

After much back and forth, Cayce leads the mother to the shallow grave of her daughter.  Soon after, Cayce’s son Luke is kidnapped and Cayce thinks he has to use his new-found abilities to save his son.

I found this to be the only downer of the story, (spoiler alert) Cayce’s clairvoyance did not lead him to his son.  It would have made for a more exciting climax to have him lead the police to Luke and become the hero to his son.

I’m not complaining about the final scene which the reader will find out for themselves, but the gay aspect seemed subdued and almost an afterthought.  However, one can easily empathize and relate Cayce and his current love situation.  We’ve all had those long dry spells and we’re afraid of losing our sanity.

The final scene also hints at a sequel.  I hope there is.