Review & Book Tour: Give Me A Hand (Beyond Desire #1) by Gwen Martin

Title: Give Me A Hand

Series: Beyond Desire #1

Author: Gwen Martin

Genre: LGBT Bisexual MM NA College Romance

Release Date: March 10, 2020

Their Worlds Collided. Everything Changed.

Cam and Jude had been college roommates for two years, fitting into each other's lives with ease. 

That is, until Cam walked in on Jude getting off alone in their shared dorm bathroom. 

Everything shifted between the two of them, awakening feelings Cam hadn't felt for anyone in a long time. Feelings Cam believed had shriveled up after surviving a near fatal car accident to then suffer a disastrous breakup with his first love.

Since then, Cam kept his heart sealed tight in a fortress, keeping himself busy with a lot of mindless hookups and a steadfast refusal to ever commit.

Cam's life had been predictable. He knew what he wanted.

Until that impromptu mutual orgasm with Jude.

Cam didn't want a boyfriend, and he certainly didn't *need* a relationship.

But he knew one thing he did crave and that was more of Jude Ellison.

Will Cam be able to work through his painful past if Jude offered him a chance at more?

MY REVIEW

When Cam walks in on his friend/roommate, Jude, in the most intimate yet awkward position, it sparks a change in their relationship. At first, Cam avoids him, and keeps a lid on his emotions. But when Jude finally gently confronts him, things take a turn. A hot, but not really satisfying, turn. And when Jude and Cam pretend a relationship that doesn't actually exist, to allow Cam to save face in front of an ex, it just might spark an even bigger change in their friendship. That is, if Cam get get out of his own head and go with the feelings he's scared of.

I was liking where this story was going, but I have to admit that by the end, I wasn't satisfied. It doesn't feel like a complete story, more like just a first installment or something. The ending is abrupt and not exactly clear on if the two were even in a relationship. It's not even a HFN ending, rather, a suggestion that perhaps someday they might get somewhere near a relationship. Hmmm...

The story, what there is, is interesting, it just, like I mentioned, is not complete. I do like Jude, though, and even felt a little for Cam, who had been so badly burned by his ex, that he allowed it to dictate his behavior into less than charming extremes. So 3 stars for the likable Jude and the beginning of what could be great.

Gwen Martin lives in Florida where the sun is always shining, the humidity is always high, and Disney is just a hop skip away. When she’s not trying to write one of her million story ideas, she’s usually hanging out with her husband and four cats.

Gwen first started writing at a young age, coming up with stories in class instead of paying attention to the math lesson. Since then she has been exploring her love of writing in various fan communities where she has learned how to cultivate character development and romantic interactions.

She has a strong love affair with cold brew coffee, black cats, and nerding out in various fandoms. When she’s not writing, she’s reading everything she can get her hands on, listening to a lot of lo-fi and making playlists, chilling with her four gatos and obsessing about Pusheen. Because it’s always about Pusheen.

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