High-powered stock trader. Simple handyman.
Can they find common ground?
Will Spencer is a player with a reputation for using and discarding lovers as easily as he earns big money on Wall Street. Handsome, sexy and openly gay, he’s used to having whatever—and whoever—he wants at the snap of his fingers.And what he wants now is his new handyman, Jack Crawford. But Jack is skittish. One lingering touch, one stolen kiss could send the older man into full retreat. Where Will might have quickly moved on to a more ready-and-willing partner, he unexpectedly finds himself wanting to go slow. With just a little coaxing, he’s sure he can show Jack how good it could be between them.
Jack, a recent widower, never thought of himself as gay. Frightened years ago by an erotic encounter with his best friend, he focused firmly on his marriage. Now that his bed is empty, however, those deep sexual longings are rising dangerously close to the surface.
Their connection is deep, instant, and one that Jack tries to ignore. Yet friendship grows into an erotic journey that must cross a divide of different generations, backgrounds and worlds.
The prize is the one thing neither is sure he can handle—true love.
Samhain Warning:
Hot, delicious male/male erotic romance. Danger: Explicit m/m sex.
HANDYMAN
I learned about Claire Thompson’s m/m romances, in March of 2009 when she completed a series of posts over at DIK. Subsequently, my blogger friend Blanche at “Theres No Such Thing As Too Many Books”, also recommended Ms. Thompson’s stories and I, being the good little glommer that I am, downloaded 3 and they have sat in my e-reader library since that time. Now, of course, I’m wondering why I haven’t read “Handyman” sooner.
Will Spencer is a College graduate with an MBA and has worked in a high pressure environment for a prestigious investment bank trading stocks. Will is gay and lived the fast life frequenting the Manhattan club scene enjoying the company of multiple lovers over the years. Soon after his doctor issued him a warning that he had best slow down or face burn out by age 35, Will’s boss drops dead in front of him. He decides to take a sabbatical, moves out of the city and buys a lovely old home in the suburbs that needs interior work.
Will hires Jack Crawford, a 44 year old carpenter and craftsman to renovate his kitchen. Jack is a widower, having lost his wife very suddenly 2 years previously. Jack has operated his one man renovation company for 20 years and earned a decent living for himself and his family. He married young and when Emma (his wife of 24 years) died he grieved and missed her terribly. After recovering from the initial shock of losing her, he pulls himself together and keeps busy with his renovation business, his love of carpentry and his home. Then he meets Will.
“Handyman” is a poignant story about two men who are at the crossroads in their lives, both lonely souls for different reasons, and how they take tentative first steps into a new relationship which then grows into a deep love. Will struggles with preconceived notions about entering into a committed relationship. Jack is unlike any of his previous lovers, he is 14 years Will’s senior, and was in a monogamous, heterosexual relationship for 24 years. Will also has to overcome some prejudice about Jack’s intellect and interests related to his job as a laborer. Unlike what the book synopsis alludes, Jack is not ‘simple’. Will is surprised to discover Jack is brilliant, an intellectual, well read and moreover is an artisan when it comes to carpentry.
I felt it was certainly Jack who had more issues to deal with when he finds himself having deep feelings for another much younger man. He not only struggles with his sexual identity, but with his ability to trust Will, an extremely handsome man who could have (and has had) any lover he chooses. Further, Jack has 2 sons fairly close in age to Will, what will they think of him having a relationship with a man? Ms. Thompson relates Jack’s introspective thoughts superbly, I could feel his insecurities and fears as he walked the road to trust and love for Will.
As noted in the Samhain warning this is a hot erotic m/m novel. Apart from a limited encounter with a man who was a good friend as a youth, Jack’s sexual experience was with his wife and he is actually quite naive and shy. I found Will’s kindness and patience in nurturing Jack’s feelings for him, and in and sexually initiating Jack emotional and sweet.
If you enjoy a good erotic m/m story and haven’t already read “Handyman” you may like to give the novel a try. I’ve already read another of Ms. Thompson’s stories and will look forward to enjoying more in the future.
I have to comment about the cover art for this novel, I suppose the guy with the ‘tie’ could be Will, but that other guy, so not my visual of Jack. lol
My Rating: 4/5 stars
Heat Level: See Samhain warning. 
Yeah, that wasn't the great cover ever – that is not Jack!
I figured you were waiting to read it to see how much work they'd get done on Tori's closet…
I liked this one, too, by the way.
I really like this one and Love Claire's style as well..
Hope the other two books you have work for you as well..
E.H>
Hey wow! This popped up on my google alerts, which mostly just show which torrent downloads of all my stuff you can get! Yikes!
This was a wonderful change from that. Thank you so very much for the thorough and excellent review! Re the cover, yeah, it's a hot cover, but SO not Jack. But that was back when I was writing for Samhain, instead of for my own imprint (Romance Unbound), since I went indie last year! Now I have complete artistic (and all other) control over my work, and I'm soooooooooo much happier!
Thanks again for this fantastic review. You are the best!
Love, Claire
Great Review!!! I also love the cover, MMMM…Yummy!!! I just started having a interest in M/M romance, so I will definitely have to look this one up though!!!
Great review Lea!
Claire Thompson writes wonderful romance stories- hot and steamy. I haven't read this one yet, but I will! *grin*
Two of my favorites that stand out are "Polar Reaction" (great) and I enjoyed "Switch" (sub/dom m/m).
MsM
I'm so glad you read this one Lea! I loved this story, it's my very favorite book by Claire…but all of her books are really good!
Great review!!
Hi Lea
Excellent review and as usual, you've hit the mark. I enjoyed this book very much too. I also thought Will's patience with Jack's inexperience was so touching & sexy at the same time.
Chris:
There was construction, books added, bone reinforced.. Good stuff..
EH:
I like Claire's voice too, I've actually gone back and re-read passages of this story. Good stuff.
I've read one of the other books I have and will read "Polar Reaction" soon, I hope.
Thanks!
Hi Claire!
Thank you for your nice comment. I'm delighted you are happy with the review. I really enjoyed your book.
I didn't realize you had switched to indie, I'll have to check out your stories under that imprint.
I don't dislike the cover, it is very hot I just didn't see Jack there. – lol
Thanks again for visiting.
Best
L
Hey Lover of Romance:
Thank you for your note.. I hope if you do read Handyman you enjoy it as much as I did.
Hi Ms.M.:
Claire does write wonderful romance – uber hot and steamy. I have Polar Reaction and will have to get to it soon.
Thanks!
Hi Blanche:
Thanks for encouraging me to read Claire's books, this one is so good, and yes I'm enjoying her voice.
I hope you are having a good weekend!
L
Hi Mary:
Thanks so much. The characterization in this novel was so good, I felt Will actually matured over the course of the story which was nice.
Happy Sunday!
I won this book awhile ago and haven't read it yet. But it does sound really good and after your great review,may have to bump it up to read sooner.
Hi Lea!
Excellent review! I've only read a few M/M, a couple have been fantastic. Claire Thompson is a new author for me, but Handyman definitely sounds good. You know, before I started blogging Menage and M/M were on my radar rarely. I've become initiated and finding it's all enjoyable.
Hope you're having a great weekend!
((hugs))
Dottie
Great review Lea.
Oh wow those warnings, nothing more to say
Sounds like a wonderful read.
All that praise made me crave it now.
Hi Elaine!
I hope you have time to read Handyman soon and enjoy it as much as I did.
Thanks so much!
Hi Dottie!
I hope your weekend is good too. It is over far too quickly though.
This was a good read for me hot and a really good story.
Thanks for your nice note Dottie = good to see you out on the blogs again..
Thanks B! LOL Yes ma'am, those warnings really do spell it out.
Hi Susi:
If you like a good m/m you may like to try it. Thanks so much..