RELEASE DAY REVIEW: 'Dating Ryan Alback' by J.E. Birk
Title: Dating Ryan Alback
Author: J.E. Birk
Published: February 20, 2017
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Cover Artist: L.C. Chase
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 255 Pages
Tags: Gay; M/M
About Dating Ryan Alback
Ryan Alback has almost everything he’s ever wanted: a successful acting career, a dog who adores him, great family and friends, and a life outside the closet. The only thing missing is a boyfriend—but Ryan’s been burned by Hollywood relationships before, and he’s not eager to try one again. Jason Santos has almost everything he's ever wanted: a fulfilling career teaching middle school, a house in a city he loves, and parents who support him in every way. Too bad he can't seem to forget the ex-boyfriend who rejected his marriage proposal. When a talk show host launches a dating contest to find Ryan a boyfriend and Jason accidentally wins, neither of them expect anything to come from it. Yet somewhere between a disastrous massage and a mud sinkhole, they both start to wonder if this date could be more than just a public relations stunt. But before they can move into the future, they'll both have to learn to let go of the past.
4 HEART READ
REVIEW: Dating Ryan Alback by J.E. Birk is an adorably cute and entertaining read with a bit of angst thrown in for good measure. It takes a celebrity with paparazzi issues and a self imposed loner unable to let go of the past and puts them together. What could happen?
Ryan Alback is a successful actor who hates being in the limelight. Contradictory you say? Well he enjoys the job but hates the publicity that comes with it. He longs for a boyfriend but having been burned in the past he is a tad jaded.
Jason Santos has a family that loves and supports him, a meddling best friend and is a successful middle school teacher. He loves his job but maintains a non-existent love life as the result of a marriage proposal rejection. His dream is to start a non-profit assisting families separated by immigration issues.
Suddenly both Ryan and Jason are thrown into the much dreaded limelight. How these two get into this situation is comical, a talk show celebrity dating contest. First, Ryan’s agent agrees to the contest without discussing it with him. Second, Jason agrees to let his best friend enter him into said contest believing there is no way he could win and this will get her off his back for a few months.
Well guess what, Ryan and Jason are headed on a getaway weekend in Vermont!
Both dread the weekend but once there things go well for the two men. They are enjoying each other’s company, meshing well together and having a good time. Enter the paparazzi. Combine that with Ryan’s past and the the getaway weekend ends poorly. That’s it right? Nope...
When Ryan is presented with an alternate view of the weekend he seeks out Jason for a do-over.
Insecurities prevail, the ex returns and the paparazzi meddles again. What could happen, right? Well grab a copy and find out!
All together there is humor, angst, heartache, and love wrapped into a delightfully light story without a lot of mind boggling depth. The story flows well with the characters being engaging and entertaining.
A slight niggle with Dating Ryan Alback….Ryan and Jason's story ends without providing closure. Maybe there will be a sequel to tie up the loose ends, maybe not. We will just have to use our imaginations in the meantime. Even with this….well worth my time spent between the pages of this one.
A copy of Dating Ryan Alback was provided to Kimmers’ Erotic Book Banter, by Riptide Publishing, at no cost and with no expectations in return. We offer our fair and honest opinion on behalf of our readers.
Riptide Publishing (eBook & Print); Smashwords; Barnes & Noble; Amazon
About the Author
J.E. Birk has been telling stories since she could talk and writing them since she was introduced to the alphabet. She hails from Colorado, where you can usually find her skiing, training for a 5K she won’t end up running, or watching people run into each other on football fields and in hockey rinks.
