You Know Me As Lad

This was my first book from this author and it couldn't have been any better. I bought this book because it pretty much has all of my favorites in it.

Military hero? Check.
Hero with a disability? Check.
Flamboyant hero? Check.
Small town setting? Check.

I would have been happy if this story had followed the patterns of other books with similar components. I was ecstatic though because this story did its own thing.

Travis is from a small town in Alabama but he's in Boston house-sitting for his brother and brother-in-law while they're on their honeymoon. While in Boston, Travis decides that his life needs a make-over of sorts. He wants to find the man for him and he knows that's not going to happen in Fredrick, Alabama. So, when we meet Travis he's letting his family and friends send him on blind dates, going to eighties parties that he didn't know were going to be eighties parties, and basically making an effort to find his way to a fulfilling life.

Travis' character is well drawn before he meets Vinnie, his love interest. I liked that because it had me admiring Travis' spirit. He was badly wounded while in the military and has some really painful days where his leg kills him. He also has more than his share of scars. Travis is sensitive about his scars and bad leg but he's not bitter and he's not letting it stop him from finding love. Is it easy for Travis to put himself out there? No, but he does it anyway. No courage without fear.

Vinnie is a doll. He's also nothing like what Travis usually goes for. Still, Travis is thoroughly enchanted when he meets Vinnie, an upscale restaurant's flamboyant host.

I wanted to give T.C. Blue a high-five because she didn't make the more "feminine" character a flighty, tiny twink. Vinnie is tall, slim, pale and has a head full of extremely long, extremely blond hair. He's beautiful, both inside and out. The scene where he tells Travis all of the insecurities he has because of the way men have tried to change him...that scene just broke my heart.

While I loved Travis and Vinnie as individuals, I loved them even more as a couple. Vinnie takes care of Travis so beautifully that it really tugged at my heart strings. It's Vinnie who helps Travis achieve his dream of getting out of Fredrick. It's Vinnie who gets Travis to take care of himself and none of it is easy. There were a couple of times where Vinnie got all tough love on Travis.

Travis, though he's the one being taken care of in many ways, gives Vinnie what he needs most. Travis lets Vinnie be his flamboyantly complicated self. He doesn't try to change Vinnie; quite the opposite. Travis loves Vinnie for his unique and multi-faceted personality. Travis never questions why Vinnie is the way he is. Travis just accepts and loves him.

Just writing the review for this book has me wanting to read it again. Actually, I think I will.