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Nate and the New Yorker/Nate’s Last Tango

The Nate and Cameron Collection

by Kevin Klehr

The Nate and Cameron Collection - Kevin Klehr
Editions:Paperback: $ 10.99
ISBN: 9781947139671
Size: 6.00 x 9.00 in
Pages: 200

NATE AND THE NEW YORKER

Nate once had the love of his life, but he’s met Cameron, a New York millionaire with an eccentric cross-dressing butler.

Cameron is keen to share his world of classy restaurants, Broadway shows, and fabulous parties, and while Nate’s friends see the makings of a fantasy romance, it’s Nate who has to learn how to open his heart again.

But is Cameron simply second best?

NATE'S LAST TANGO

Nate’s life couldn’t be better. He’s living with his rich boyfriend, Cameron, in New York while being wined and dined all over the city.

But when Nate decides to visit his friends back in Sydney, Cameron suggests they break it off for a while. Cam’s cross-dressing butler is not impressed, and with the help of his lesbian aunt, they drag Cameron down-under to sort out his relationship and take in the sights of Mardi Gras!

With Nate at a loss to what went wrong, he faces the dim reality that love may have run its course.

Excerpt:

From the 60s themed party scene:

Both Cameron and I had Hawaiian shirts to wear, while Rowena sported a tie-dyed sarong and an afro wig. And around us, interesting guests wore chic little skirts, James Dean-style jackets, hippie gear, and mod wear.

“You haven’t introduced me yet,” said a middle-aged woman to Cameron. Her rust-colored coat had a masculine cut. Yet she elegantly held a long-stemmed cigarette holder with something that smelled very much like a joint burning on the end.

“Sorry,” said my charming American. “This is my friend, Nathan. And this well-dressed lady is my Aunt Beverley.”

“Nice to meet you,” I said.

She took my hand and kissed it. “I hope you don’t think me too forward, it’s just that you’ve got such fascinating features.”

“My aunt likes to flirt.”

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“It runs in the family,” she replied. She gave me a measured wink. “Now, nephew, where have you been hiding this handsome Englishman?”

“I’m Australian.”

“It’s your accent. I never can tell the difference.”

“I need you!” yelled a girl in a flower necklace. She was the drummer of the band and was addressing our host.

“It’s time,” Cameron said.

“Time for what?” I asked.

He kissed me on the cheek and then headed for the microphone stand.

“You’re in for a treat,” whispered Aunt Beverley, her voice raspy from years of smoking.

“He sings?” I asked.

“He sings,” she replied.

A laid-back strum of the bass guitar started the song, followed by a drum beat. Then the vocal. And before I knew it, I was being serenaded in front of a room full of acquaintances. But, wow! What a unique experience.

“I’ve never seen him go out on a limb for someone like this before,” said his aunt.

I smiled politely, then closed my eyes. He was crooning. His honey voice made my soul rise out of my body and search for a dream. And in the hip nightclub that appeared in my mind, he wore a gray suit with a crimson tie, standing tall in front of the trumpet section who were waiting for their cue. And I was the only one in the club.

“Where are you?” asked Aunt Beverley in a low tone.

I wanted to say I was in love but stopped myself. I realized it was rude to have my eyes closed during Cam’s song. I opened them. He had me in his sights. I wanted to jump into the waves on his Hawaiian shirt and end up on a deserted island with just him and me.

“Would you like a toke of my cigarette, Nathan?”

“No, thank you. I think the fumes have already hit me.”

COLLAPSE
Reviews:Liz Gavin on Liz Gavin Author Website wrote:

I enjoy stories that tap into different genres and mixed them up because they’ll surprise you. In Nate and the New Yorker, Mr. Klehr skillfully blends comedy, magical realism, paranormal, and romance. With emphasis on sweet romance. And the author sprinkles his great sense of humor throughout the short-story; but one of my favorites is when Nathan compares his situation to a bad romance novel. That’s no way near true about this book. It’s an enjoyable, short read. Ideal for lounging pool side or at the beach.

However, some inconsistencies prevented my total immersion in Cam and Nate’s story and that’s how I personally rate books. Five stars are reserved for those that whisk me away completely. I was sad it didn’t happen with this story and that’s why I knocked off one star.

I know some people who have successfully maintained long-distance relationships but I’m a bit skeptical about falling head-over-heels in love after one chance encounter. Mainly because I’m yet to know of a successful love-at-first-sight story in real life. Granted, romance genre is full of stories where couples fall madly in love after a brief encounter. That had nothing to do with me subtracting a star from my rating. Conversely, things like the church scene in Prague didn’t sit well with me. (avoiding spoilers here so won’t get into details). I can say without spoiling it that the exchange, in my opinion, was an inch shy of disrespectful. I’m no prude – being an erotica writer I CANNOT afford to be one. In fact, I’ve first-hand experience with couples going at it on a public park in Milan and a hotel staircase in Rome. And nope, I wasn’t part of any of the couples just an innocent, unintentional bystander LOL But that scene was a bit off.

On the other hand, I loved the sweet paranormal (or magical realism: it depends on one’s belief) element. Again, no spoilers here. But if you check the author’s previous books, as I did before reading Nate and the New Yorker, you won’t be surprised when it pops up in the story. As a believer in that possibility, – yes I’m being vague on purpose LOL – it made total sense to me and I congratulate Mr. Klehr on his sensibility at portraying it the way he did. Hats off, sir!

Overall, I had a good time reading about Nate and Cam’s romance. I mean, the author will take literally on a journey through the planet. I LOVE traveling. He skillfully fleshed-out both main and secondary characters. Rowena was a delight, btw. I wish we had seen more of her. Plus, he packed a lot of feelings, excitement, and big ideas in a concise text. It is not easy to do that.

I recommend Nate and the New Yorker for everyone looking for a sweet, romantic story about two men struggling against physical distance, cultural differences, and social status so that they can find their way to one another.

Jaycee on Books ‘N Cozy Spots Book Reviews wrote:

So, lets just get the bottom line out of the way: this is quite possibly *the* best novella-length story I have ever read. Clinically speaking, it is the textbook presentation of the successful short story and all that should entail, but seldom does. Start to finish, beginning-to-fully fleshed middle, to ending-with-a-slight-but-interesting twist, this is the quintessential big story compacted beautifully into a short.

It would be a disservice to leave the analysis at the clinical level, because there is just heart-for-days in this journey with compelling main characters and full-bodied secondary friends and family. There is a melding of disparate worlds, made possible by a gentle letting-go of pasts best left…past. There is a resolution of souls, in this world and the next, and every last bit of it—heart and soul of it—is exceptionally, beautifully and believably accomplished with *zero* descriptive sex. And it is every bit as visceral a journey as any explicit story I’ve read.

I can’t recommend this 80-something pages of deep and abiding soul highly enough for anyone wanting a great little story, and/or anyone wanting to see how any story -short or long- *should be composed.

Susan on Goodreads wrote:

This book is a sequel to Nate and the New Yorker, but luckily for me, it is not necessary to have read the first to appreciate Last Tango. The book is an entertaining take on what happens after the HEA for two very different men. Cameron is the typical New Yorker, somewhat uptight and expecting the worst in any scenario.

Nate also is typical, but Australian, so he is much more laid-back and usually enjoys the moment, even if he is haunted by the memory of his first love. The difference between the two cultures struck me most forcibly when I was fortunate enough to spend a month in Australia after living in NYC for a number of years.

Since this is a romance, Nate and Cam do find their way to a presumably permanent HEA, but not without both almost self-destructing a number of times. This was a fun, frothy read for me and I would definitely read the author again!

Mollien Osterman Alpha Book Club on Amazon wrote:

Where the first book, Nate and the New Yorker was a fun fast romance showcasing how Nate and Cameron met and fell in love. The second book Nate’s Last Tango shows us just how fragile love can be. Cameron has wined and dined Nate all over New York, but Nate misses his home and his friends back in Sydney, Australia. After a long flight home, Nate finds out that Cameron is having second thoughts about their relationship. What happened? Everything was perfect, or was it? Knowing that Cameron and Nate belong together, Cameron’s wacky, cross-dressing butler and Cameron’s colorful, lesbian aunt drag Cameron back to the other side of the world to bring the insecure couple back together. The chemistry between Nate and Cameron is just as strong and hot as it was in the first book, but Nate’s departed love keeps getting in the way of things, figuratively and literally. The pacing is fast and is laugh out loud strangely funny.

It is a short story that can easily be read in one sitting making it an excellent choice for your flight to somewhere or your commute to work. Since these two obviously belong together, I can assure you a happy ever after ending to bring a smile to your face. In this second book, we get a better glimpse into the characters making them all the more enjoyable.


About the Author

Kevin is the author of a number of books including the Actors and Angels series and the Nate and Cameron Collection.

The Actors and Angels series are three comedies about theatre in the Afterlife, where two friends explore their love for each other through several lifetimes with the help of a gay angel. The third in the series scored a Rainbow Award for Best Gay Alternative Universe/Reality novel.

The Nate and Cameron Series are two novellas that delves into a relationship between a dreamer and a realist, where the latter is coming to terms with loving second best. The two stories, Nate and the New Yorker and Nate's Last Tango, are also available in one paperback edition.

His novel, The Midnight Man, scored a 2021 Gay Scribe Award in the Fantasy category, and first place in the Reviewer's Choice Award with the Paranormal Romance Guild in the LGBTQIA+ category.

Kevin lives with his husband, Warren, in their humble apartment (affectionately named Sabrina), in Australia’s own “Emerald City,” Sydney.