Review: Fire Balls by Tara Lain (Balls to the Wall #2)
Note: This ebook was provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
Fire Balls is the second book in the Balls to the Wall series penned by author Tara Lain, with this being the second edition. Having not read the first edition, I can't tell you what changes or additions were made, but what I can tell you is that this was definitely a step up from its predecessor, series starter Volley Balls, in terms of story and characters. Rodney Mansfield was originally introduced in the first book and now, the successful artist from Laguna Beach finds himself a muse--albeit a reluctant one--in the person of firefighter Hunter Fallon. Rodney is a flamboyant gay guy and doesn't hide who he is nor does he bother to censor himself. On the other hand, Hunter may be gay, but he's what Rodney calls a "straight gay guy"--someone who holds on to his masculinity very tightly.
He may be crushing on Hunter, but Rodney knows all too well Hunter would never go for someone like him. What's a guy to do? Well, when one of his best friends hints at having a thing for Hunter, Rodney coaches and coaxes him. They're both masculine gays, so they're better suited, right? After all, Hunter has been looking for someone who shares the same interests as him--literature, poetry, and art. Someone who was preferably as masculine as him and who wouldn't hesitate to top him. So, why is he so drawn to the far more flashy Rodney? As attracted as he may be to the enigmatic artist, Hunter has an image to protect. The last thing he needs is to fall for someone who could make him look soft. But the heart wants what it wants and his heart wants Rodney... What if it's too late for them?
I really liked Rodney! He was who he was. You either accepted him as he was or you could move on. My heart did break for him a bit because Hunter was such a jackass for a good portion of the story. He clearly wanted Rodney, but nope, the preconceived notions of what makes a man a man were so deeply ingrained in his head that he compromised on his needs and wants. This story had a bit of Cyrano de Bergerac to it, what with the whole Rodney helping his friend out with what to say when he's having conversations about literature and poetry with Hunter. I liked the connection between Rodney and Hunter, with Rodney proving that he was exactly what Hunter needed all along. With Fire Balls, the author appears to be taking the series in a better direction. This gets 3.5 stars. ♥
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Read my reviews for the Balls to the Wall series:
Volley Balls (book one) - 2.5 stars - My Review
Fire Balls (book two) - 3.5 stars - My Review (posted above)
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Date Read: 09 February 2017
Learn more about Tara Lain.
