RELEASE DAY REVIEW: 'Family Man' by Heidi Cullinan and Marie Sexton
Title: Family Man
Authors: Heidi Cullinan and Marie Sexton
Published: September 11, 2017 - 2nd Edition
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Kanaxa
Genre: Contemporary Romance; Erotic Romance
Length: 206 Pages
Tags: Gay; M/M; Self-Discovery; Angst: Light; Comfort/Hurt; Coming Out; Family Drama; First Time; GFY; May/December; HEA; CW: Substance Abuse
About Family Man
Sometimes family chooses you.
At forty, Vincent “Vinnie” Fierro is still afraid to admit he might be gay—even to himself. It’ll be a problem for his big, fat Italian family. Still, after three failed marriages, it’s getting harder to ignore what he really wants.
Vinnie attempts some self-exploration in Chicago’s Boystown bars, far from anyone who knows him. Naturally, he runs smack into someone from the neighborhood.
Between working two jobs, going to school, taking care of his grandmother, and dealing with his mother’s ongoing substance abuse, Trey Giles has little time for fun, let alone dating someone who swears he’s straight. Yet after one night of dancing cheek-to-cheek, Trey agrees to let Vinnie court him and see if he truly belongs on this side of the fence—though Trey intends to keep his virginity intact.
It seems like a solid plan, but nothing is simple when family is involved. When Vinnie’s family finds out about their relationship, the situation is sticky enough, but when Trey’s mother goes critical, Vinnie and Trey must decide whose happiness is most important—their families’ or their own.
First Edition published by Samhain, 2013.
4 HEART READ
REVIEW:
In Family Man, Heidi Cullinan and Marie Sexton treat readers to a real old-fashioned love story. As Vince fantasizes, “Trey wanted courting. Vince found, the more he thought about it, that he did too.” Sigh!
Vinnie Fierro is an Italian-American plumber with three failed marriages, who can’t stop thinking about the gay couple whose sink he fixed, while they consoled one another about their financial problems. When he confesses his confusion to his sister, she suggests he visit a gay bar to see how it feels.
There Vinnie encounters Trey Giles, the younger neighborhood man he’s always noticed. And, after they dance together, Vinnie must admit he’s infatuated. But Italian-American studs from close-knit families aren’t gay, are they? And if Vinnie is, will this disappoint his family? Will they reject him?
Working two jobs, Trey is supporting his Grandmother and alcoholic mom, who excuses her drinking by saying, “‘it’s a disease.’” Her behavior has wiped out gram’s retirement, his college fund and put a second mortgage on their home. But he’s “fine” (f’ed up, insecure, neurotic and emotional) as long as he remembers not to hope, because (he thinks to himself), “It will smash you to pieces. So you kill it fast, before it kills you.”
Trey may be a virgin, but he’s out and proud. Why bother with a closeted relationship, no matter how big a crush he’s had on Vinnie.
A particularly charming element of this book is that Vinnie and Trey’s stories, which alternate chapter to chapter, are written in third and first person respectively. Somehow, third person matches Vinnie’s gallant style, while the immediacy of first person suits Trey’s more emotional stance.
Cullinan and Sexton write angst with acute sensitivity.
Their portrayal of Vinnie’s coming-out process, first to himself and then with others, was specific to Vinnie’s personality, different from other’s journeys, and completely natural.
I was grateful that Cullinan and Sexton allow Vinnie and Trey to date rather than chase their physical intimacy. It gave the men time to adjust to new visions of themselves. These are responsible, considerate men who admit their vulnerabilities, rather than expect the other to compensate.
Meanwhile, as an addiction psychologist I wanted to scream at Trey’s mom. “An alcoholic who says she can’t stop drinking ‘because it’s a disease’ is like a diabetic saying he can’t stop eating sugar ‘because it’s a disease.’ Your disease is the exact reason you MUST stop drinking, you manipulative bitch!” I guess the story got me involved, didn’t it?
As Trey and Vinnie court, the romance of a simple kiss, a touch, a well-timed look is brought to readers like a sensory five-course dinner, with love as the desert.
If this is a fairy tale, then the authors tell us, “It isn’t the fairy tale that matters. It’s the people who believe in it. The people they believe in it for.”
I thoroughly believed in Cullinan and Sexton’s romantic men who aren’t what others expect of them, and instead, are exactly who they are. Family Man is splendid!
A copy of Family Man was provided to Kimmers’ Erotic Book Banter, by Dreamspinner Press, at no cost and with no expectations in return. We offer our fair and honest opinion on behalf of our readers.
Don't miss Trio and Annie's Banter Buddies where they chat about their favorite characters, scenes, endearments...and more from Family Man!
Meet the Authors
Heidi Cullinan has always enjoyed a good love story, provided it has a happy ending. Proud to be from the first Midwestern state with full marriage equality, Heidi is a vocal advocate for LGBT rights. She writes positive-outcome romances for LGBT characters struggling against insurmountable odds because she believes there’s no such thing as too much happy ever after. When Heidi isn't writing, she enjoys playing with new recipes, reading romance and manga, playing with her cats, and watching too much anime.
For more from Heidi be sure and visit her website!
Marie Sexton lives in Colorado. She’s a fan of just about anything that involves muscular young men piling on top of each other. In particular, she loves the Denver Broncos and enjoys going to the games with her husband. Her imaginary friends often tag along. Marie has one daughter, two cats, and one dog, all of whom seem bent on destroying what remains of her sanity. She loves them anyway.
For more from Marie be sure and visit her website!
