Dex in Blue by Amy Lane (Adult Romance)

* * * * 1/2

Ten years ago David Worral had plans to go to college and the potential for a beautiful future in front of him. One tragic accident later, he fled to California and reinvented himself as Dex, top porn model of Johnnies.

Dex’s life is a tangled mess now, but the guys he works with only see the man who makes them believe even porn stars can lead normal lives. When Kane, one of Dex’s coworkers, gets kicked out of his house, the least Dex can do is give him a place to stay. Kane may be a hyperactive muscle-bound psycho, but he’s also a really nice guy. What could be the harm?

Except nothing is simple—not sex, not love, and not the goofy kid with the big dick and bigger heart who moves his life into Dex’s guest room. When they start negotiating fractured pasts and broken friends, Dex wonders if Kane’s honest nature can untangle the sadness that stalled his once-promising future. With Kane by his side, Dex just might be able to reclaim the boy he once was—and if he can do that, he can give Kane the home and the family he deserves.

 

Earlier this year, Bel read and reviewed her first Amy Lane book – Chase in Shadow.  At her urging, I read it as well and was completely enthralled and wrapped up in Ms. Lane’s character building.  I finished Chase in Shadow with a hard earned smile on my face (though not nearly as hard earned as the smile on Chase’s face) and an eagerness to know what would happen with all of my other favorite boys at Johnnie’s.  And apparently, Amy Lane aims to please, because this past week Dex in Blue (the story of two of my fave Johnnie’s models – Dex and Kane) was released. 

Dex is unofficially second-in-command at Johnnie’s.  He takes care of everything from scheduling and filming scenes to making sure the new models know what to eat and understand that it’s just a job and they should never get attached.   That is until he becomes attached to co-worker and ultimate jerk, Scott.  When he gains the strength to finally kick Scott to the curb, Kane is unexpectedly there to help.

Kane can only be described as simple.  Not stupid or dumb.  Just simple.  He doesn’t comprehend sarcasm.  He doesn’t read between the lines.  And he doesn’t do irony.  What he likes is straight-forwardness.  He wants to be able to take things at face value.  He loves kind acts and kind words.  And becomes he likes THOSE things he really, really likes Dex.  Dex is the guy who helps everyone out (including him) and he is hoping he will help him out again when he finds he needs a place to stay. 

Of course Dex says yes to taking in Kane (and his room full of pets).  But what starts out as “just helping a friend” becomes yet again breaking the rule of becoming too attached to a co-worker.  But as Dex and Kane navigate an unexpected relationship that includes the trials of helping friends in need, dealing with dysfunctional family and coming out, they find that they just might be able to have a happily ever after with each other.   

If you thought that the angst and sadness of Chase in Shadow was too much then Dex and Kane’s story might be for you.  Ms. Lane warned me on Twitter that I was going to enjoy Dex’s story since I enjoyed Making Promises so much.  And she couldn’t have been more correct.  Dex in Blue is an ultimate comfort read (my favorite kind!)  This is a sweet story about two very kind and loving men trying to take care of each other as friends and somehow along the way it becomes more.   

I am going to cross my fingers and hope there will be more in this series.  And I can only hope that Ethan’s story is next -because even I feel lost and lonely when Ethan isn’t being held.  Please Ms. Lane?  Pretty Please?

 

Nat