lilysreviews

Book Blurb: Entomology grad student Adam Ellery meets Denver Rogers, a muscle-bound hunk of sexy, when Denver effortlessly dispatches the drunken frat boys harassing Adam at the Tucker Springs laundromat. Thanking him turns into flirting, and then, much to Adam’s delight, hot sex over the laundry table.

Though Denver’s job as a bouncer at a gay bar means he gets his pick of geek-sexy college twinks, he can’t get Adam out of his head. Adam seems to need the same rough play Denver does, and it’s damn hard to say no to such a perfect fit.

Trouble is, Adam isn’t just shy: he has obsessive compulsive disorder and clinical anxiety, conditions which have ruined past relationships. And while Denver might be able to bench-press a pile of grad students, he comes from a history of abuse and is terrified of getting his GED. Neither Denver nor Adam want to face their dirty laundry, but to stay together, they’re going to have to come clean.

Review:  I've read a couple of Ms. Cullinan's books before with good results. Dirty Laundry continues that trend.

While certain aspects of the story are not to my taste, they fit within the story's framework and I think something would be lost if they were taken out.

The title of the book is one of my favorite things about the story because, while there is actual dirty laundry involved in the story, it is more of a metaphor for the issues both Adam and Denver have.  Issues that need to be communicated before they can have a detrimental effect on the men's relationship.

Another aspect of the story that I really enjoyed is the characters and how they grow and work within (and without) their boundaries and issues.  "Seeing" how Denver and Adam grew comfortable in their skins and blossom - especially Adam - was great.

A good read and an interesting way to spend the time.

(Review copy via Netgalley.  Book blurb and cover image also found on Netgalley - (c) Riptide Publishing.)