Straight Shooter

March 15, 2014

This wild card pick tells the intriguing tale of college hockey player Austin Puett, a supposedly straight jock and reluctant member of the Rear Entrance Video clan. He has been threatened with eviction and termination from his job, unless he can quell his intolerance and come to accept his roommate Bobby for whom he (she? they?) are. But how can Austin learn to accept others when he can barely tolerate himself? Plagued with "messed up" fantasies since he was a teenager of being sissy-shamed, humiliated, dominated by men, Austin thought he had learned to control his kink. But with the new pressures of being made alternate captain of the team (under rather unpleasant circumstances) and tension with his roommates, he is finding his little "problem" more pervasive than ever. Then Liam Williams, also known as Master Puck and resident authority on the art of "setting up straight subs," wanders in during his shift at Rear Entrance Video, and Austin starts to figure out that everything doesn't have to be black and white. There is almost nothing "quick" about this title, and yet it is certainly worth inclusion in a library collection for its strong writing and unique approach to such unconventional erotic content. The action here is entirely slow burn, as Austin struggles to understand the implications of his deviations and his overall sexual identity. In fact, most of the sexual interaction includes nothing but fantasy and self-love until halfway through the book, when Liam is introduced. Belleau's tone of voice for Austin is biting, even caustic at times, but there is a consistent humor that buoys the weightier issues. She captures the complex dynamic of an all-male sports team without dehumanizing the peripheral characters into homophobic meatheads. In the same vein, Austin's trouble with accepting his own interests and desires is portrayed with a distinct tenderness, though the gay stated throughout the book might be a turnoff for some readers. VERDICT This title is quite a departure from most mainstream erotica, touching on heavier topics including homophobia, self-loathing, and past mentions of self-harm. The kinks are also a little more "out there" than what some readers might be used to, with Austin and Liam entering into a Master/submissive relationship. Recommended for fans of the "Rear Entrance Video" titles and similar series.

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