I've read a lot of romances over the last almost two years. Some of them are among the finest books I've read, ever. This one isn't quite that perfect, but oh, it's close. It misses only because I'm a sf/f fan at heart, and this is contemporary. The evolution of the attraction through many stages is just amazingly well done. The delicacy the author displays in showing feelings is impressive; at one point it startled tears from my eyes. Every character is so well portrayed I feel like I've met them, like I'd know them on the street.

If you are in need of a very well written m/m romance, this is your book. ( )

Such great writing

Kelly Jensen is a superb writer. This story is romantic, emotional and believable. The story held a few surprises as well. All necessary elements of a good book! ( )

When I read a blurb where both men in a potential relationship have baggage, hang-ups, and issues they face with other people, as Jacob and Max do in ‘Block and Strike”, I know I’m in for a bumpy ride. With Jacob (Jake) it’s about trying to get back his life after spending a year in prison – and visitation rights with his daughter are at the top of his list. For Max it’s about standing up for himself, dealing with the lack of self-esteem his father drilled into him, and deciding whether he has the courage to open his heart to love. Both men need support but they also have to learn to stand on their own before becoming a couple and learning the delicate art of helping a partner without suffocating them or squashing their drive to be their own person. And what a struggle it turns out to be for both of them – separately and together.

Jake is an impulsive guy, he has a temper and that’s what got him into trouble, followed by a prison sentence. He just got out, so finding a beaten-up man on his doorstep is a bad idea – what with his background and temperament. And the one thing he knows with certainty is that he can never go back to prison. He has to get his life in order, keep a clean record, and make sure his parole officer supports his case of seeing his daughter again as soon as possible. But despite all this, Jake can’t leave a half-dead man lying in the alley, so he decides to help. It just shows what a big heart he has, and turns out to be just the beginning of a turbulent, but ultimately rewarding, relationship.

Max is shy and passive, because he has learned that hiding is better than sticking out your head and risking a beating. He has been bullied for years, has had no support from his homophobic father, and is pretty much resigned the fact that he’ll get beaten up on a regular basis for the rest of his life. My heart went out to him, but most of all, I wanted him to accept that he is worth just as much as the next guy and that nobody has the right to humiliate and demean him – especially not his own father!

Jacob and Max are an unusual combination. Jake has more than enough self-confidence but needs to be careful about “toeing the line” for the officials. He is a good teacher and it’s his conviction that enables Max to learn a few self-defense techniques and to begin believing in himself. Max, on the other hand, has a calming effect on Jake and supports him through more than one “crisis of the temperament". They are also very cute together, and I found their journey of exploring their feelings very touching.

If you like stories about men with issues, if you want to watch two guys battle their internal and external demons – and win, and if you’re looking for an emotional read that is moving without being sappy, then you will probably like this novel as much as I do. It’s the characters who did it for me, but their story with all its ups and downs was a close second.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.
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