Jefferson Blythe, Esquire

This action/adventure book features a neuro-divergent hero whose angst & bad decisions (at times) drove me a little crazy as a reader. But ultimately I warmed up to him and found his exploits entertaining. The overall tone dances with absurdity and fearlessly embraces eccentricity while traipsing through London, Paris, and Rome. I listened to the audio version – which was read flawlessly. It is a light read/listen that at times hits some unexpectedly dark moments, but never dwells there.

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In this sexy male/male, new adult romance, a twenty-something man on the run from the mob in Europe finds adventure and love with a friend turned lover.

After his first relationship goes disastrously awry, Jeff Blythe uses his savings to tour Europe—the old-fashioned way. Armed with his grandfather’s 1960 copy of Esquire’s Europe in Style, Jeff sets off looking for adventure but finds much, much more than he bargained for . . .

In London, dodging questions from shady criminals about a mysterious package he most certainly does not have is simple. Losing the gunmen who are convinced he’s someone else is not. And when George, an old friend, offers him help—and a place to stay, and perhaps something more—things become complicated.

Is George really who he seems? And is Jeff finally ready to act on his attraction?

The Purple Fantastic Steam Meter gives it a light 4 rating. There are occasional sexy bits that can be specific, but the focus is always moving character development and the plot forward. It never feels particularly excessive.