Acting Out by Scotty Cade is a sexy and well written love story between two men who are learning how unimportant gender really is. I received a copy of this book at no charge from the author in exchange for my honest review.
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Acting Out by Scotty Cade
Title: Acting Out
Series: N/A
Author: Publisher/Date: Dreamspinner Press; 1 edition (September 24, 2014)
Format/Length: Novella 965KB, 197 pages
Heat Rating: 4
Star Rating: 4
Purchase Link:
Amazon / Goodreads /Dreamspinner
Author Info:
Learn more about Scotty Cade on his website, check him out on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.
Blurb:
After one very long tour of duty in Afghanistan and an honorable discharge from the USMC, Elijah Preston comes home to nothing. He barely scrapes up enough money for a cheap motel in Quantico, Virginia, with no money-making opportunities in sight. A chance encounter in a local Walmart finally gives Eli hope for employment. Elijah is ready to sign on with Royce Mackey’s proposition… until he hears what’s required. Royce operates a gay military porn site and wants Eli as his next star, never mind that Eli isn’t gay. Desperate and broke, Eli grudgingly accepts Royce’s offer and soon finds himself immersed in a strange new world.
Hamish Turner’s been there before. Taking Eli under his wing, he teaches him everything he can about Royce’s operation. The two quickly become friends, easing the way for their first scene together. Awkward at first, they both ease into it and find there is more of a connection between them than either expected. Curious to see where their mutual attraction takes them, they begin a relationship off-screen. But life gets complicated when a crazed fan of Hamish’s starts sending threatening letters demanding the scenes between the two men stop. Or else….
My Review:
Acting Out by Scotty Cade is an indepth and very hot look at the gay for pay porn industry. I have zero knowledge of what actually goes on in the porn industry but the details that the author includes makes it very realistic sounding.
We start out meeting Eli who has recently left the military with an honorable discharge. Due to some really rotten circumstances (mainly his greedy parents!) he is left with nothing but his last paycheck and a degree he can’t find a use for. He is living in the cheapest motel he can find and trying hard to find a way to support himself with no luck. And then he meets Royce.
Royce’s offer of becoming a gay porn star falls on deaf ears at first. Eli is convinced he can find a legitimate job and pull himself out of his financial struggles. After month’s without finding a job, though, he breaks down and takes Royce up on his offer. Royce assures him that not being gay presents no problems to his future in gay porn at all!
Hamish was once in the exact same position as Eli and understands the struggles he is going through. He takes Eli under his wing, shows him the ropes and they become good friends. Eli is drawn to Hamish and the heat between them is intense. That passion gives way to deeper feelings which causes Eli to freak out a bit. When a crazed stalker threatens to kill him, Eli realizes that gender is of little importance when faced with losing the love of your life.
Acting Out is basically porn in book form with a nice story thrown in for good measure. There is a good deal of sex but it is written so differently for Eli and Hamish. The other characters in the book are ‘having sex’. The main characters ‘have sex’ with other porn stars in Royce’s group. But Eli and Hamish don’t just have sex. They are making love…in a very sexy, detailed and drool worthy manner! The friendship forms first, the passion comes second and the heart finally realizes that gender is unimportant.
The one thing that I have always loved about Scotty Cade’s books is how well he creates that depth of feeling between the two main characters. There is no doubt they are in love, even if Eli has trouble admitting it at first.
The characters in Acting Out are all very well written, even the secondary characters. You learn a bit of their back story and get a feel for their personalities. I would definitely like to see Royce’s gay for pay group featured in another story!
The drama at the end with Hamish’s stalker gave the book a bit of non sex based excitement. I definitely never suspected who the culprit turned out to be. I would have liked to see this part of the book drawn out a bit more. It seemed a bit too quick for my liking but it was well written and it cemented Hamish’s importance in Eli’s mind.
If you are looking for a well written gay romance with tons of heat and a military twist I think you will definitely enjoy Acting Out!
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