Foray into #LGBT: Review of Five Dates by Amy Jo Cousins

I will utilize any chance to show off the cute guy.

Three things that prompted me into reading my very first m/m romance.

1. A FB post by Brazen Babes Review where she was pissed that someone bought an interracial book and then left a horrible review without even reading. The reviewer claimed,  “she couldn’t relate to a black heroine”.

It got me thinking, not about IR or multicultural books because I read (and write) those like crazy, but about LGBT books. I’ve never read one. Only because I didn’t think I could relate to it. I had never read one so how would I know?

2. My late mother used to always tell me to try new things. My smart ass would ask her if I should try drugs and then I’d have to jump back at her scathing look. She was an open minded woman who taught me to be open minded, too.

3. Liv Rancourt, a romance novelist who recently got into writing m/m romance. I love her published M/F romances. She hinted that one of the stories in a series she writes may feature m/m relationship. I figured I’d get myself prepared for the read.

And so last week I put out a tweet asking for a sweet m/m romance. And to my surprise I got a response from Sharon C. Cooper a multicultural contemporary romance author to read Five Dates by Amy Jo Cousins. I think we may have had a difference definition of the term ‘sweet’ but other than that she was right when she promised I’d like it.

After all, love is love, no matter who’s tumbling into it.

Is LGBT my new favorite genre? Not at this moment. But I won’t shy away from it anymore when a good blurb and cover come my way.

The Blurb

Helping his sister Lucy raise her kid has put Devin’s love life on hold. When he loses a bet to her and the penalty is to go out on five dates with men she’s chosen from Guys4Guys.com, he thinks that’s bad enough. Finding out she used a thirteen-year-old picture of him to score a date with a young guy who looks like a rock star? Epically bad.

Jay thought he wanted to fall for an older man. But his last boyfriend left him feeling humiliated and determined to stick to guys his own age. When he realizes he’s been conned into a date with exactly the kind of man he’s sworn to avoid, he’s ready to walk away on the spot. Only Devin’s swift apologies convince Jay to accept dinner to make up for the deception.

“The date doesn’t count for the bet unless you get a goodnight kiss.” After one not-a-date dinner with Jay, Devin isn’t worried about his sister’s rules. He just wishes he could convince Jay to go out with him for real. Jay wants no part of Devin, but Devin wants every part of Jay . . . so he asks Jay to help update his look for the rest of his dates. But once Jay’s made Devin over into the perfect date, will he be able to let him go?

My Review

This is my first m/m romance so I wasn’t sure what to expect. A pure romance should’ve been what was on my mind because that’s what I got. A story that made me chuckle, gasp every once in a while, and say “Awww” when it ended. The only difference between it and the other romances I’ve read is that it was between two males. Which didn’t end up being much different than a love story between heterosexuals. Love is love.

Ms. Cousins has a way with words and I’m glad her work was recommended to me. I look forward to reading more from her.

I give this novella five out of five leather jacket shaped chocolate bars.

I purchased this book from Amazon. You can also get your copy from All Romance eBooks.