Genre: Contemporary
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
Get It On Amazon
About The Book
On the surface, Toby Griffiths appears to have it all: talent, money, a brilliant mind, and model good looks. With his best friend Reese, he’s built an empire as a singer/songwriter.
But beneath that glittering exterior, Toby suffers the lasting effects of betrayal (or abuse?). To keep his tempestuous past where it belongs, he insists on anonymity with lovers—no names, no personal information. A vacation fling in Bali changes all that, and he can’t get his recent playmate out of his mind.
Therapist Spencer Hart left Bali with a bad case of pneumonia and a broken heart. While recovering, he’s shocked to find his secretive partner on TV—and he’s determined to see him again. Spencer arranges to attend one ofToby’s fundraising galas, and their reunion is tense.
Toby tries to stick to his rules… until a New Year’s kiss with Spencer washes away the last of his resistance. ButToby is a man with secrets, and when the storm that’s been holding comes ashore, it could devastate not just his professional life, but his fledgling love affair and long-time partnership with his best friend.
Will Spencer stand by his side and help him weather the storm as Toby faces his worst fears?
The Review
Spencer Hart’s life changed when he met a handsome stranger at the Spartan All Male Resort in Bali.
He’s a psychotherapist whi is writing a book and researching gay teens and their alarming rate of suicide, and this vacation was supposed to help him unwind. Then he hooks up with a handsome, “no name” someone.
Going back to LA, he delays his return to his practice with his friend Javier – a virus, severe asthma and pneumonia have him laid up, and all he can think about is the secretive man he met in Indonesia. Spencer is an introvert, shy and pensive and loves working with kids. He has a small group of friends who he cares about: Javier, Charlie Willoughby and Richard Dahl.
Tobias Griffith has a great friend in Reese Matheson. They collaborate on music, and have done many musical hits and shows together, even earning a Tony. Reese is pining for Jude De La Torre, and to make things right, he’s rooming with Tobias.
Tobias has issues of his own that stem from abuse he suffered as a young teenager. He’s never found a way to deal with his trauma, so he has hook up sex, and never lets anyone get too close. He never gives himself credit for all that he has accomplished, and thinks he ruins lives and is never good enough.
All Spencer wants is to get well, and he hopes to see the stranger “Tobias” again – he’d snuck a look at the man’s ID, so at least he knows his first name. While recuperating and watching TV, he’s surprised to see Tobias with Reese Matheson. They mention the GLSEN organization and Jesse Martin, so Spencer reaches out to his friend Charlie, who calls Jesse and gets them invited to GLSEN fundraiser that benefits children at Danny Black’s home.
At the fundraiser, Spencer is officially introduced to Tobias, and things don’t go very well. Spencer has a serious asthma attack and the anxiety that goes along with it. After the fundraiser they reconnect, but it’s a rocky road between them.
Toby’s dark past comes between them, as does his animosity toward Spencer’s profession as a psychotherapist. Even though he’s drawn to Spencer, he finds ways to hurt him. Will Toby finally be able to face his past? With Spencer be able to give Tobias the time and love that he needs?
Merrill’s second installment in the “Forces of Nature” series flirts with darkness, an emotional story that deals with Toby’s struggle to escape from his own past and the feelings of inadequacy it engendered in him. He finds a way to have a better life, but it’s always a struggle.
There’s a lot of “famous name dropping” and music nostalgia throughout the series, which makes it fun, including Isaac Hayes, James Brown, Prince, Funk and R&B and many more.
I highly recommend Typhoon Toby – a rollercoaster romance of emotions. Start with Hurricane Reese, the first novel in the “Forces of Nature” series. Well worth the read.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
