Crossing The Line

Title: Crossing The Line
Author: Stephanie Vaughan
Publisher: Loose Id
Genre: Alternative/Non-traditional Sexualities; Erotic Romance
Publication date: September, 2005
ISBN: 1-59632-163-6
Page Count: 167
Rating:
Heat Rating:
Reviewer: Elizabeth

Jamie MacPherson is a self made man. He has risen from his poor background with a father who was partial to using his fists, to owning his own very successful business, MacPherson’s, a highly sought after high end cars speciality garage with a waiting list and where the customers are the ones bringing the references. A very rich man, Jamie is nevertheless insecure. Though aware money can’t buy true happiness, experience has taught him it significantly paves the way and lends a facade of happiness. In possession of low self-esteem, believing few like him for himself and not his money, indeed believing himself unworthy of others love and friendship, he feels isolated, alone and disbelieving that anyone worth having a relationship with will want him for himself. To this end he has tried to buy those he felt deeply for and to a large extent it had worked: with Brett it was holidays, with Jonathon clothes...But sooner or later they all broke up with him, to Jamie’s mind because not even his money was enough to make them want to stay with him. His latest break-up with someone he cares for has left him depressed and more believing of his unworthiness than ever. When he meets Ryan, his waiter at Le Grande Lousienne, he doesn’t believe he really has a chance with him, comparing him to a Greek God in his own mind. But his deep-seated attraction makes him try for Ryan anyway. He is ecstatic when Ryan responds, but frustrated by Ryan’s indecisiveness and wavering. Jamie does something he hasn’t before – he actively pursues Ryan. Though still disbelieving Ryan will stay with him for long, he decides to grab what he can while he can. But when he falls in love with Ryan beyond his wildest dreams, he realises he is outside the bounds of his experience and turns to long time friend Claire for advice. But no matter what you do, you can’t force, convince or buy love – it has to come naturally. Can Ryan love Jamie? Or is Jamie to be hurt once more?

Ryan Van Alstyn is not what he seems. A waiter by trade, he has one and a half Master Degrees, an expensive house on Laguna Beach and a new Mazda Miata convertible. Few know his story but it is not a happy one. The son of two doctors, his last relationship was nearly two years ago. Though it didn’t last long, it was ended by the death of his partner, Mark. Since then, he has not felt even a flutter of a response to another man and has been celibate. His sexual reaction to Jamie shocks him. Though he wants to keep his distance, wary of being hurt and losing another lover to death, his body dictates otherwise, resulting in his giving mixed signals to Jamie. His body soon wins the battle – but his heart is quickly conquered. As if facing his own demons is not enough, Ryan finds he has an uphill struggle to gain the relationship with Jamie that he longs for, as in addition to his own fears, he will also have to overcome Jamie’s doubts, insecurity and low self-esteem to convince him he really does love him and will stick by him in the long term. Will he be able to convince Jamie of this? Or will Jamie’s low self-esteem doom the relationship from the start?

Wow! The number of non-traditional erotic romances I have read I can count on one hand, but this one definitely stands out above the rest as a brilliant and sensitive erotic romance. Both of the characters are similar in so many ways. Each is wary of getting involved in a meaningful relationship, though deep down this is the one thing they desire above all else, both are plagued by fears and insecurities, they each have their own set of demons to face on the road to true happiness...Very well developed, what these characters have gone through brought a tear of sadness to my eye, accompanied by a hope that they will finally experience a happiness they never thought possible. The emotional side of a relationship is explored and detailed in depth, but as well as being emotionally satisfying, the physical side has by no means been neglected; on the contrary, the sex scenes are erotic and well detailed, in no way distasteful, though be warned the sex is between two men and anal sex is involved. If you are not amenable to a relationship involving two men, no matter how touching and sensitively written, then this is not one for you. If you are a fan of alternative sexualities, then I say go for it: you won’t be disappointed!