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A second-chance M/M romance novel about finding your groove.
Mateo de la Cruz expected to dance, drink, and maybe get picked up when he hit West Hollywood on his birthday. He didn’t expect to wake up with an epic hangover, fully clothed, in the bed of the guy who gave him the best dance of the night.
Sam Lee didn’t expect the birthday boy to be such good company, especially not with a hangover. A day off together led to dinner, which led to going back to bed. It was perfect, which was scary. When Mateo left, Sam panicked. They didn’t see each other again for a year.
Then Mateo tracked Sam down again, to see if they could figure out why neither of them had been able to move on. And once they'd figured that out, it was time to figure out their next moves.
REVISED EDITION.
- 1 To Be Read list
Publisher: Independently Published
Genres:
Pairings: M-M
Heat Level: 4
Romantic Content: 4
Ending: Click here to reveal
Character Identities: Gay
Protagonist 1 Age: 18-25
Protagonist 2 Age: 26-35
Tropes: Age Difference, Interracial Relationship, One Night Stand, Second Chances
Word Count: 73200
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Same Universe / Various Characters
Sam sighed. “I met someone this summer.”
Vince gave that a few seconds. When no more was forthcoming, he said, “And? Did he turn out to be an asshole?”
“No. Nothing like that.”
Another pause. Vince made a ‘keep talking’ gesture that produced nothing. He was starting to get concerned. “Sam?”
READ MORE“He was perfect. Young, fun, smart. Beautiful. We met at that club I told you about. It was his birthday.” Now that he was talking, he couldn’t seem to stop. “Guys were buying him shots. He got really fucked up, and I took him home so he’d be safe.” Vince’s face betrayed surprise at ‘took him home.’ Sam shrugged, a little embarrassed. He knew most people didn’t understand how hard it was for him to connect. They only knew that he didn’t. “When he woke up, we talked. We both had the day off. We just hung out. He took me out to dinner. We ate here.” He looked around as if to verify it was the same place. “And then he, he asked if he could come back home with me.”
“Uh-huh.” Another long pause as Vince deduced what happened next. “And he was perfect?” Sam nodded. Vince was trying to figure this out. He’d found his perfect partner only months ago, and hadn’t stopped talking to her since. But clearly Sam was not talking to this guy. “Did he not take your calls or something?” That would have been ‘asshole,’ and Sam said he wasn’t, but otherwise Vince didn’t know what the hell could have happened.
Sam was staring across the room. “I didn’t take his calls.”
“What the fuck, Sam.” Vince couldn’t figure this out at all. Sam was obviously miserable, maybe heartbroken, but it sounded as though he’d done it to himself. “I’m assuming you had some reason. Did you catch him kicking your cat?” Again, ‘asshole,’ but Vince was trying to elicit some response. His friend didn’t react. I do not know enough about this guy, he realized. They’d known each other for quite a while but apparently not very well.
Sam was gazing at him now. “I’m too old for him. I have a lot of baggage. I’m kind of a mess.”
“Sam, for fuck’s sake.” Vince had heard from his new love Kelli on the subject of Sam. ‘Old’ and ‘mess’ were not included in the description. Not to mention Sam was actually younger than Vince. He frowned a little. The mystery guy had to be at least twenty-one. “How old is he?”
“Twenty-three.”
“Sam! For fuck’s sake!” That almost got a laugh. Vince was exasperated. “Tell me you’re having second thoughts.”
“Second, third … twentieth.”
“Do you still have his number?”
“No.” Sam planted his elbows on the table and dropped his head into his hands.
“God damn it.” Sam nodded. Vince thought for a second. “You know his name, though.” No sound, no movement. “He lives in L.A.” Silence again implied assent. “Are you going to try to find him? It couldn’t be that hard.” The number would be on his call records, even if it wasn’t in his phone any more. This guy was really conflicted. Vince didn’t understand it.
Sam took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and raised his head. “By now he’s probably decided it’s not worth the trouble. I wouldn’t blame him. He knows where I work.” That escaped him. Mateo knew where he lived, too. Sam was acknowledging, to himself, that by not answering the phone he’d put the younger man in an impossible position. “I should have talked to him.”
COLLAPSEBob-O-Link on Rainbow Book Reviews wrote:REVIEW:
Mateo goes out for his birthday to a dance club in WeHo. He’s gets really drunk and he dances with a gorgeous and sort of dangerous looking guy named Sam. They fit really well together. But Mateo gets really really drunk. Jules the bartender tells Sam to check on Mateo and he does. He takes him home rather than see him come to harm.
Mateo is really hungover, but he connects with Sam and they spend the day together. Neither has ever had such a connection on a first “date” as it were. But when Mateo reaches out to Sam, Sam doesn’t pick up. He doesn’t think he’s worthy of such a great guy as Mateo.
They spend a year pining after each other. Mateo, after taking to his sister finally hunts Sam down at his job. Sam has done some work on himself and he’s embarrassed that he didn’t pick up or return Mateo’s calls. They decide to try again – and well things go completely differently. They have missed each other a lot and they each have made a lot of progress in their own lives and their own “growing up” so to speak in the intervening year. Neither is willing to let the other go again.
They meet the families. They move in. Sam opens up about his past. They begin dancing together for earl – ballroom dance. They work out together. Sam’s friends becoming Mateo’s friends. They fit really well into each others lives despite their outward differing appearances. And they make a life together. There are ups and downs, but they fit. Then there are the Gay Games competitions!
Last year I read a holiday novel by this author that I really enjoyed. When I was offered a revised novel that had been published a decade ago, I decided to take a chance. I’m glad I did. It was another enjoyable story about two men who, while from very different worlds, connect so well. And one of their connections is through dance. It seems like this author has a real love of ballroom and of queer characters. The couple from another book in the series this book is set in are supporting characters here and friends of Sam. Sam and Mateo are very different people They both grow and change in this book and become better people both separately and together. The story is told from both POVs which I really appreciated. Each chapter moves the story forward in their lives which provides a clear timeline. I loved the discussion and view of the Gay Games and the dance progressions. Really a delightful romance. Recommended.
Four Stars
An observation: ‘Beat’ was set in 2011, copyright in 2013, and recently reissued. That raises a question of whether the original style has held up over a decade. This gay romance is only moderately sexual as the main characters discover each other and become a couple. The major thrust of the story is their engagement in competitive ballroom dancing together and with friends, and that unique environment. Having read many books of the original printing era, sex, even heavy and detailed, was certainly included in many publications. So I note that ‘Beat’ is more akin to light romance, focusing on avocational development and a view of a life style.
While Rainbow Book Reviews avoids wasting the time of our general reading population with works which do not earn at least a satisfactory rating level, this novel is probably quite acceptable to a narrower audience, one where a gentler plot and character interaction are prominent.
Accepting that style, ‘Beat’ is a sweet story. Beginning in the West Hollywood of jam-packed clubs and hot men, we are introduced to Mateo – a young and attractive Filipino, alone on his birthday. He is a solitary person. And along comes Sam, a tall, Black and Chinese man (with a touch of Mexican), who sweeps in and starts dancing with Mateo. Sam, a former martial arts fighter, has ‘serious skills’ and the couple soon are the major attraction on the dance floor. The racial descriptions seem present only to emphasize diversity, and neither add to nor diminish this relationship! Hooray for the author.
The lead characters are wonderfully drawn – such differences but such a good mix. Mateo is young and concerned about his lack of intimate experience. Sam, truly worldly, is much older, has a scarred face and a broken nose. And yet, he is gorgeous. From these backgrounds we witness their growing familiarity and attraction. Perhaps they become “one” a little too quickly, but that is okay as it is the secondary thrust of the story. Sex occurs slowly and in graduated steps, though they move in together too quickly. But they develop common interests, share friends, and their involvement with competitive dancing caries the story. BUT, I need to warn potential readers, while that can be exciting, much of the dancing reads as though sports tales, it is a matter of taste and patience, often a bit too technical. It’s not for everyone. Within the pages, competitive dancing is perfect for Sam who was an MMA participant, and is especially connected to others who are physical.
What is positive about ‘Beat’? It’s a tale of two very different men, meeting and mating. Characters are limned and grow, their metamorphosis connecting in intensity. The descriptions of the dances may be somewhat abstract for readers, but the energy is quite visual.
