Cam Cox (Gay Romance)

I wanted an easy read gay novel and that's exactly what I got. This was the first of the author's books I have read, and it was fast-paced, jolly and full of improbably but deliciously good looking guys. What's not to like about that? Oh, and there's plenty of sex as well. The central love story is well developed, although I didn't think I knew much of the guys backstories or really much about them at all. The subplot was a bit odd but it kept the narrative going. The author seemed to mix up his characters' names at times and whilst he obviously spent time in Cambridge to work on his story, as a member of St John's College myself, which is clearly the college of the main characters, I found lots of irritating little inaccuracies. This all sounds a bit carping. I couldn't put it down, and I'm very glad I read it!

Alan Hollinghurst's novels have less and less gay sex with each passing book. Anthony McDonald is going in the other direction. And who's complaining? This book is charming, romantic, very sexy and occasionally stretches credibility as much as the lycra covering, or not covering, the most appealing physical attributes of its oarsmen heroes. But no one else does sweet and sexy heroes as well as AM does. In his usual, wonderful way he conjures up time and place: this time it is Cambridge which he magics up from the misty fens conveying, not just its beauty but also the bitter cold which no one who has ever rowed on the Cam will ever forget. The college authorities seem to have changed massively over the generations and Charlie and George, the book's central characters, have the good fortune to be roomed together as freshmen in their first term and to take about three minutes to discover their mutual attraction and to put theory into practice. They have the equal good fortune to meet the best of the rest of the gay men in Cambridge and, with equal alacrity, to go to bed with them in various permutations which only a family tree could accurately track. It is fast paced and fun. Despite my tongue-in-cheek comments, I loved it.

In the latest of the Gay Romance series Anthony McDonald gives us students, art, prostitution, spies, intrigue, capsizing boats, gunmen and lots and lots of sex. Also, of course, there is the romance as George and Charlie discover themselves, their sexuality and ultimately their love. Beautifully written as always, this book is a joyous, uplifting and very sexy romp.

The characters manage to negotiate all the hazards of keeping a love affair on track among all the vicissitudes and temptations of a first year at Cambridge.

Not a bad book, but wasn't my best

I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was difficult to put it down once I had started to read it!It had humour, it had sex and it had enough intrigue to make it a first class read and well worth the 5 stars that I gave it.Long may the series continue

When I was the age of our heroes, you had to hide that you might be gay and that led to a life of deceit which still prevails for me today. This novel and its beautiful gay romance reveals how much I have missed out on if I had been true to myself.

OK