Book Review: Good Question by Dawn Kimberly Johnson

Title: Good Question
Author: Dawn Kimberly Johnson
Genre: Contemporary Romance, M/M Romance
Sensuality Rating: Steamy
Source: review copy from publisher
Published: April 3, 2013 by Dreamspinner Press

Ever since Jamison Coburn lost his father, he’s been locked up tight, not just because of the heartache but also because if he wants to be like the man he so admired, embracing his attraction to other men is impossible.

Lonnie Bellerose is simply minding his own business when he pulls up at his twin sister’s house, intent on painting a mural in her new nursery. He doesn’t expect to meet anyone like the tall, dark, handsome, and silent handyman. Their first kiss is as spontaneous as their attraction, but Jamison quickly pushes Lonnie away. No biggy. Lonnie knows all about rejection. He’s used to it, has come to expect it.

Perhaps an unexpected weekend together housesitting might set them free of their pasts to become the men they can be together—that is, if Jamison can get past his denial and Lonnie can learn to trust that he's worth loving after all.

Reviewed By: J9

In a Nutshell: Decent MM romance that was a tad too short for the romance to fully develop in my opinion.

The Set Up: Jamieson wants to be like his father but that didn’t include attraction to men so when he sees attractive Lonnie he tries to ignore him. Lonnie is painting the mural at his twin sister’s house when he meets the big, silent handyman. Though one kiss brings the men together, Lonnie’s fear of being left and Jamieson’s fear of coming out may keep them apart.

Why I Read this Book: The synopsis caught my attention as did the fact that both leads are men of color, which is too rare in MM romance.

What I Liked: I liked the set up for Lonnie and Jamieson. They’re both about the same age and both floundering a bit in life. They aren’t open to many people so their mutual attraction forces them to risk a bit of themselves. I like this emotional vulnerability in romance and think it played out well here. Though their romance alludes to sexual intimacy, this isn’t a straight erotic romance and I like that too since it’s a short novella and needs to tell the romance and not just the erotic.

What I Also Liked: I liked the storyline of Lonnie’s twin sister and husband having their first child. They’re good secondary characters and their departure to the hospital allows Jamieson and Lonnie to be together for the weekend so it’s critical to the romance development too.

What I Didn’t Like: This novella was just too short to tell a fully developed romance in my opinion. The men share a weekend together and suddenly the emotional denouement happens. This shortchanged these interesting characters in my opinion and wrapped up a romance that was more complicated than the ending offered.

IMO: Even though I wasn’t a fan of the rushed ending, I liked these characters and their romance up until that point.

 

J9’s Rating: