Despite feeling slightly unfinished I really enjoyed this book. Or maybe it’s just that it left me wanting more. I really liked both these characters and the story held my attention throughout. There’s really strong message here about health/life insurance and what’s right that I felt was really apropos for today’s current medical debates. This book is book is told in 3 parts and for once I didn’t hate the repetitive story line either.

Part 1: Red – Ben “Red” Dutoit is training to be an actuary. He’s got a great internship with a company and best of all it’s away from his home state of Minnesota and in gay friendly San Francisco. Finally he’ll be able to explore that side of himself without having to suffer too much abuse by the idiots of his hometown. Heck he’s even sorta dating one of the execs at work. He’s out and proud and everything seems to be going right. That is until his immediate supervisor ends up in the hospital after a heart attack and the downturn of the economy threatens his job. Still his head honcho boss, the son of the owner of the company is fighting for him to keep his job. He even puts in a gym at work to help people stay healthier. When the two of them start spending more time together working out and on the job Ben’s feelings start to change. Too bad Adrian’s straight.

Part 2: Blue – Adrian Sydney Sutherland IV secretly wants nothing more than to be able to go back in time to when he was able to travel Europe unencumbered with his then boyfriend. Having to take up the reins of the family business may have been what he was groomed for all his life, but it’s not his dream. Still he is the dutiful son and he will do as his father demands including hiding his “gay tendencies.” But it means that their company WILL keep offering high risk life insurance policies for those in need, most especially those who have HIV/AIDS. This is the one point Adrian won’t budge on. He knows what it means to have a loved one dealing with the disease. He may not have been able to help him, but he can do this. So he will live his life jealously watching those who can be open about who they are. Nothing’s ever threatened his straight façade though until one sexy redheaded intern unknowingly shakes things up and tosses Adrian’s safe little world on its head.

Part 3: Mix it on up – As one would assume the last half of the book deals with both guys together. I think the reason the whole repeated section didn’t bother me too much was because when Ms. Gayle was telling Adrian’s story she didn’t focus on all the same events that Ben’s story did. I felt like I was getting new information and not a regurgitation of the same info. Plus it’s only about half (maybe less) of the book. Of course after that it’s all togetherness building new material. Also that first half really deals with these two as business associates not as potential partners. Neither of them was seriously considering making a move. Ben had Jason and Adrian was deeply in the closet. There was an attraction of course, but not one that either felt they could ever act on. It was the getting to know you stage of any good relationship and gave time for feelings to develop unacknowledged.

I loved the slow build of this relationship. Both men, despite the age gap, had some growing up to do. In some ways Ben is the more mature of the two as he is comfortable with who he is. Adrian’s unwillingness to face down his father and fight for what he wants shows a little immaturity. Yet in the business world Adrian is the perfect model mentor for Ben to study under and grow and mature as a professional. The video they put together amused me to no end. There’s something to be said or watching two people fall for each other and each thinking there is no way they can ever act on it. It’s not all about the sex or the physical chemistry and is instead about real feelings they are developing for the other. The AIDS scare of course added a realness to the world and a fair bit of tension without taking this story too melodramatic or angsty.

Of course once we got to the point that Ben and Adrian discovered that the other had feelings for the other the heat index got turned WAY up! A bear in the woods up there in Minnesota would have had quite the show to witness. I also really liked the fact that despite the physical attraction and finally being able to act on it and release all that sexual tension it didn’t immediately solve everything. There were still battles to be fought and lost. There was still work that needed to be done.

Despite the page count this book flows really quickly and kept my attention and interest the whole time. I wanted these two men to figure out their own issues and find a way to come together. Adrian certainly deserves a little happiness in his life. I liked the fact that even though there was a third person involved in things there was no cheating and after everything that went on Jason does make his amends.

My only complaint about this book, as stated at the top, is it feels slightly unfinished, only because it ends so abruptly. I mean it just ends. I felt like I needed one more scene, or an epilogue to tie up a few loose ends between these two. They just found each other and are able to commit, but there are a lot of undiscussed issues. I would have loved to see them all resolved. One final sex scene does not a permanent relationship establish.

I enjoyed this book and would definitely read more by this author even though it doesn’t quite reach my favorites shelf. Really solid writing and a meaningful story will win me over any day.

Merged review:

Despite feeling slightly unfinished I really enjoyed this book. Or maybe it’s just that it left me wanting more. I really liked both these characters and the story held my attention throughout. There’s really strong message here about health/life insurance and what’s right that I felt was really apropos for today’s current medical debates. This book is book is told in 3 parts and for once I didn’t hate the repetitive story line either.

Part 1: Red – Ben “Red” Dutoit is training to be an actuary. He’s got a great internship with a company and best of all it’s away from his home state of Minnesota and in gay friendly San Francisco. Finally he’ll be able to explore that side of himself without having to suffer too much abuse by the idiots of his hometown. Heck he’s even sorta dating one of the execs at work. He’s out and proud and everything seems to be going right. That is until his immediate supervisor ends up in the hospital after a heart attack and the downturn of the economy threatens his job. Still his head honcho boss, the son of the owner of the company is fighting for him to keep his job. He even puts in a gym at work to help people stay healthier. When the two of them start spending more time together working out and on the job Ben’s feelings start to change. Too bad Adrian’s straight.

Part 2: Blue – Adrian Sydney Sutherland IV secretly wants nothing more than to be able to go back in time to when he was able to travel Europe unencumbered with his then boyfriend. Having to take up the reins of the family business may have been what he was groomed for all his life, but it’s not his dream. Still he is the dutiful son and he will do as his father demands including hiding his “gay tendencies.” But it means that their company WILL keep offering high risk life insurance policies for those in need, most especially those who have HIV/AIDS. This is the one point Adrian won’t budge on. He knows what it means to have a loved one dealing with the disease. He may not have been able to help him, but he can do this. So he will live his life jealously watching those who can be open about who they are. Nothing’s ever threatened his straight façade though until one sexy redheaded intern unknowingly shakes things up and tosses Adrian’s safe little world on its head.

Part 3: Mix it on up – As one would assume the last half of the book deals with both guys together. I think the reason the whole repeated section didn’t bother me too much was because when Ms. Gayle was telling Adrian’s story she didn’t focus on all the same events that Ben’s story did. I felt like I was getting new information and not a regurgitation of the same info. Plus it’s only about half (maybe less) of the book. Of course after that it’s all togetherness building new material. Also that first half really deals with these two as business associates not as potential partners. Neither of them was seriously considering making a move. Ben had Jason and Adrian was deeply in the closet. There was an attraction of course, but not one that either felt they could ever act on. It was the getting to know you stage of any good relationship and gave time for feelings to develop unacknowledged.

I loved the slow build of this relationship. Both men, despite the age gap, had some growing up to do. In some ways Ben is the more mature of the two as he is comfortable with who he is. Adrian’s unwillingness to face down his father and fight for what he wants shows a little immaturity. Yet in the business world Adrian is the perfect model mentor for Ben to study under and grow and mature as a professional. The video they put together amused me to no end. There’s something to be said or watching two people fall for each other and each thinking there is no way they can ever act on it. It’s not all about the sex or the physical chemistry and is instead about real feelings they are developing for the other. The AIDS scare of course added a realness to the world and a fair bit of tension without taking this story too melodramatic or angsty.

Of course once we got to the point that Ben and Adrian discovered that the other had feelings for the other the heat index got turned WAY up! A bear in the woods up there in Minnesota would have had quite the show to witness. I also really liked the fact that despite the physical attraction and finally being able to act on it and release all that sexual tension it didn’t immediately solve everything. There were still battles to be fought and lost. There was still work that needed to be done.

Despite the page count this book flows really quickly and kept my attention and interest the whole time. I wanted these two men to figure out their own issues and find a way to come together. Adrian certainly deserves a little happiness in his life. I liked the fact that even though there was a third person involved in things there was no cheating and after everything that went on Jason does make his amends.

My only complaint about this book, as stated at the top, is it feels slightly unfinished, only because it ends so abruptly. I mean it just ends. I felt like I needed one more scene, or an epilogue to tie up a few loose ends between these two. They just found each other and are able to commit, but there are a lot of undiscussed issues. I would have loved to see them all resolved. One final sex scene does not a permanent relationship establish.

I enjoyed this book and would definitely read more by this author even though it doesn’t quite reach my favorites shelf. Really solid writing and a meaningful story will win me over any day.

Red + Blue is the first book I’ve read by author AB Gayle, but I am sure there will be more in the future. This book is about two people finding their place in the world, figuring out how to use their individual voice, while also learning to ask for help along the way. The author chose an unusual style in writing this book, but it really worked for me. The book opens with first person from Ben’s perspective, then switches to Adrian’s first person perspective of the same amount of time, and then the book moves to third person where we get both Ben and Adrian’s point of view. It sounds confusing, but I promise it works and had me from the start.

I loved Ben’s character, he’s honest and straight forward and strives to be all that he can be, however he’s still only 24 and has some growing up to do because he can be a bit naïve. Adrian was once completely out and proud, but has let his responsibilities, guilt and his father’s prejudices wall him in and the closet is becoming very stuffy. I don’t want to give any more away, but this is a great story with two good guys just trying to find their way.

Ms. Gayle does a fabulous job capturing the life and energy of San Francisco as well the beauty and calm of nature found in Northern Minnesota and Ontario, Canada. There are great secondary characters found within this book, including both the MC’s family and friends. I can’t wait to hear their stories, especially Jason, Chris and Mick’s! If you like M/M stories about discovery, love and hard decisions, than this book is for you!

Voto: 3.5 di media
Sapete che cos’è un ‘attuario’? Beh, non preoccupatevi se lo ignorate, perché neanch’io lo sapevo prima di leggere questo libro, ma la storia ce lo spiega per bene.
Ben, il nostro protagonista, è proprio un attuario stagista e il suo pane quotidiano sono calcoli, previsioni, andamento di mercato, assicurazioni, e molto altro.
Ben è un giovane ventenne che viene dal Minnesota e si è trasferito a San Francisco – Gay Central, come ama chiamarla lui – per poter scappare da un ambiente provinciale e campagnolo e vivere liberamente la sua omosessualità e godere del sesso (ce n’è tanto nel libro: pensato, immaginato, vissuto).
Ben rappresenta il rosso del titolo, non solo per i capelli di fiamma e la tendenza ad arrossire facilmente, ma anche per l’esuberanza e la vitalità. La prima parte del libro è incentrata dal suo punto di vista ed è maggiormente dedicata a lui.
Il grigio della seconda parte è invece l’altro protagonista, il trentenne Adrian Sydney Sutherland IV, erede di una Compagnia di Assicurazioni e integerrimo capo di Ben.
Adrian si veste sempre impeccabilmente e il grigio rappresenta il suo stile severo e costoso, ma è anche la spia di una vita non vissuta, sprofondata nel grigiore delle menzogne e del rammarico.
Tuttavia, questa storia è divisa in tre parti e il titolo, Rosso e grigio, ci fa capire come, malgrado la differenza di età, di status sociale e di esperienze, Ben e Adrian siano perfetti insieme. Quella che nasce come una collaborazione amichevole nella palestra aziendale si accresce diventando amicizia, complicità e, innegabilmente, l’attrazione reciproca viene a galla. L’occasione perfetta sembra essere un’escursione in canoa fra i laghi, con Ben come guida... Ma i nostri protagonisti devono faticare parecchio – fisicamente ed emotivamente – prima dell’agognato lieto fine, perché ci sono molte cose in sospeso e ostacoli da superare, decisioni importanti da prendere per arrivare alla felicità.
La storia non ha toni esplicitamente drammatici, ma tocca varie tematiche serie, tra cui i pericoli della promiscuità sessuale e dei rapporti non protetti, le malattie come l’HIV e l’AIDS, il dolore, il lutto, l’omofobia, il coming out e altro ancora.
Accanto ai protagonisti, abbiamo diversi personaggi secondari e una menzione speciale va ai nonni di Adrian, perché sono adorabili. Anche la mamma di Ben è un bel personaggio. Altre comparse, invece, non mi hanno convinta del tutto, come i fratelli di Ben o Jason.
La resa italiana è molto curata, con un editing praticamente perfetto.
In generale, la trama ha un buon ritmo. Devo però ammettere che, a mio avviso, alcune parti sono un po’ più lente, alternate ad altre più coinvolgenti.
Nel complesso, resta una lettura gradevole e la consiglio se cercate un amore travagliato, una coppia con una decina d’anni di differenza e se amate i legami capo-dipendente.

3.5 stars

This is the kind of story that delivers exactly what I like in an m/m romance - complex main characters, lots of emotional soul searching, a journey fraught with obstacles, some hot sex and a happy ending.

The story is first told from Ben's point of view, introducing a young man out to make his mark on the world. Moving from Minnesota to San Francisco, he is out, living a good life, with a good job. Ben respects his boss Adrian and they slowly develop a friendship which eventually leads to Ben having feelings for his 'straight' boss. "There was a connection between them. It wasn't merely a boss-employee relationship thing. There was more than that. Deep down, Ben knew there was more, wanted there to be more."

The next section of the story is told from Adrian's point of view. Adrian is very much in the closet. He has strong ideals and has been forced to lead a life, not of his own choosing. He denies his feelings for Ben for many complicated reasons. Adrian is so different from Ben, afraid to risk so many things.

The men finally confront their feelings when they spend a week together canoeing in the wilderness. But this very special time is also the catalyst for heartache to follow.

I really enjoyed the section of the book as the men travel through the lakes. There were some beautiful descriptions of the landscape, the weather and the journey. There were some wonderful descriptions blending the sexual experience with the location, very poetic... "Colors swirled and danced. The blue of Ben's eyes merged with the indigo lake and clear azure sky in the background."

There were also some wonderful analogies in the story, exploring the themes of risk and choices. As Ben and Adrian, head through the lakes to their drop off point, they need to reassess the direction they are taking and risk another path. Adrian needs to rely on Ben's experience and knowledge and trust they will reach their destination. "If only he had Ben's confidence to know which was the right path to take as far as his life went."

The ending worked well for me with separation and heartache, followed by life-changing decisions and the ultimate reconciliation.

I enjoyed this book from beginning to end!

We are gently led into the story by getting p.o.v's from both MC's of the beginning of their friendship. Ben is young, proud and out, finding his way as a junior actuary in an insurance firm. Adrian is older and has firmly shut the closet door after being bought to heel by earlier heartbreak and family obligations in running the insurance firm. Somehow the two men start a friendship but not a relationship until a fateful canoe trip - but Adrian's hold on the closet lock is strong and Ben ha s a hard fight to get the man of his dreams.
A nice, low angst story.

Adrian is a thirty-something guy forced back into the closet by emotional blackmail from his father. Ben is an actuarial student from Minnesota, young, gay, and out, who goes to work for Adrian's insurance firm. They have a nice slow-building chemistry, a clean, believable plot, and some good if not very complex secondary characters. This was almost a five-star book for me, and I did feel the emotions, especially towards the end, and enjoyed the hard-won HEA.

But some of the guys' reactions to the issue of HIV when it rears its head seemed awfully low-key to me.

Spoiler

I though Ben should have had a much stronger reaction to what Jason did. I understand that Ben is a calm guy, and I do realize that the second time they barebacked, he consented to it (partly because he found out it wasn't the first time, though.) But that first time, Jason got him too drunk to protest and did that despite previous risky behavior with other men. Being told about that barely caused a ripple for Ben, even after Jason tested positive. That behavior is damned close to assault, and I think for someone as trusting as Ben the betrayal would have loomed much larger.

I also thought that when Ben and Adrian were finally alone in the woods, Ben was much too cavalier about sex, and so was Adrian for a guy who lost a lover to AIDS. Sure, they paid lip service to needing a condom and to Ben not topping when they found one. But they played around with mixing spunk in ways that, while not really risky, I think would feel psychologically risky. If Ben really was in love, I think he would have played it super-safe at that moment, not risked Adrian in any way. He would have kept any possibility of virus away from Adrian, no matter how turned on he was. And while Adrian might have been more willing to be the one at risk, I think there would have been more awareness on his part, for instance not topping Ben super hard on a first time, condom or not. I really wanted deeper emotions around this issue than I got.

I was also very irritated with Adrian for springing Ben's severance on him at work like that. I would have thought he would have been considerate enough to go to see Ben and discuss the issues and possible solutions with him in private. But I could see Adrian doing things the hard way out of obliviousness and a bit of self-centeredness, thinking more about his own sacrifice than Ben's. So that was within the realm of the character's range, even if it made me think less of him.

I would definitely pick up another book by this author - I really enjoyed her writing style, and my issues with this book were purely personal preconceptions. In fact, they reflect the fact that I believed and felt for her characters and had a whole image built up of who they were and how I expected them to behave. That shows the talent with which they were created. Oh, and as a Minnesotan? Yeah there were a couple of stereotypes but you know, they're stereotypes for a reason. Come visit and we'll show you guys just like that, you betcha.

The book was supplied by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Ben Dutoit comes from Minnesota to San Francisco to be out and proud. To be in the Pride parade, pick up guys and generally be young and stupid. Adrian Sutherland is so far from out and proud that it's ridiculous (no, really!). Working in his dad's firm and ignoring his own sexuality, he's firmly denying any and every desire of his own.

The novel is split into three parts. One from Ben's POV, one from Adrian's and one that's shared. I had my misgivings about this, but the author manages to pull it off without the book seeming repetitive. It even works to the story's advantage that you get inside the head of both guys, so you see where they're coming from and their backstory is naturally explored without the narrative being held up by lengthy dialogue.

Generally Red+Blue is a very solid and entertaining if somewhat frustrating read. Both Ben and Adrian are likable and sweet characters... If only Adrian didn't frustrate the hell out of me!
I completely get that your parents have some sway over your actions, but why would Adrian so completely drop all his own ambitions not to mention his "gay tendencies"... what? Just because dad said so? Because he's a spineless moron? Because he has a strange Freudian mental illness making him incapable of standing up for himself?

But you do get emotionally involved and I found myself really rooting for the pair of them. In fact I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to give it five stars if it wasn't for one glaring flaw.

HIV/AIDS plays a prominent role in the story which I think is great. The question about people with HIV being able to get a life insurance is taken seriously and discussed in a way which suggests that the author has done her homework.
However - and this is a big however - what the Hell are Ben and Adrian thinking?

Spoiler

Ben agrees to bareback with a guy he knows to be the male equivalent of Samantha from SATC. Stupid!
Adrian tries to seduce Ben with no condom at hand even when he knows Ben may be infected with HIV. That is not something a guy whose first boyfriend died of AIDS would do!

The story may treat the matter of HIV and AIDS with respect but the characters treat it with a stunning disregard considering their situation - and that's why I didn't give this story five stars.

Nice story. Too much page time on individual MCs before they became a couple. Adrian's character acted and talked much older than his actual age. Adrian was weak in his inability to play hardball politics with Laurel. Adrian was heartless to totally dump his boyfriend to die of AIDS in Europe. This flaw decimated his character. Adrian wanting to have bareback sex with Ben in the heat of the moment and with Ben waiting for test results was stupid. The POV changes were not balanced. The last third was rushed. No epilogue. This book needs to be rewritten. Don't recommend.