This isn’t my usual type of book, but I was intrigued when I read the reviews. It also seemed an appropriate choice because of everything that’s been going on in the news recently. (It also didn’t hurt that it was a contemporary – the search for the great contemporary read continues.)
Shining in the Sun by Alex Beecroft
(2010, Contemporary)
Grade: 3.5
Alec spends most of the year pleasing everyone around him – his mother, his fiancée – but for one month, he escapes all his obligations. On the way to his vacation, he meets Darren, and the two hit it off immediately. But Darren isn’t quite what he seems – is he more interested in Alec’s money, or is he just escaping his troubled family and difficult past?
I had a hard time with this book at first. The prose was extremely melodramatic, even by romance purple prose standards. This was in contrast to a few blunt sex scenes, which seemed out of place so early in the story. However, the prose settled down after the first third of the book or so and the focus turned to the relationship, which I found more interesting. It was refreshing to read a contemporary set in Britain, and I appreciated that the author dealt directly with class differences between the heroes. It also dealt with the characters being gay (and Alec’s acceptance of himself) without feeling like a lecture. However, the book felt a bit short. There was a lot of melodrama crammed into a book that was only about 200 pages longj, and unfortunately, the character development got a little lost. I found the book unique and well written, but it was just finding its way when it ended. Overall, a valiant effort but it fell a bit short.
This was the first book I’ve read on my Kindle! It took some adjustments to find the right position to hold the Kindle without giving my hand cramps, but overall, I liked the experience. Perfect for this book since it doesn’t seem to be available in print.
Karen Wheless
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