Calendar Boys May: Corazon

Title: Calendar Boys: May – Corazon
Author: Jamie Craig
Publisher: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure
Genre: GLBT (M/M)
Length: Novella
Rating: **** 1/2 (out of 5)

Mason Ritter does not want to take time off work to go to Puebla, Mexico for the Cinco de Mayo holiday but his boyfriend Miguel is pressuring him to do so. Mason hates that Miguel pretends they are just good friends and co-workers in front of his family and the fact that they ignore him and refuse to speak in English makes him feel humiliated. Pedra, Miguel’s sister is worse than the others because she treats him like the help and the only person he is looking forward to seeing is Anton Rocha, Pedra’s fiancé with whom he had shared a few kisses on his last trip.

Anton had a history with another man that resulted in a scandal four years ago and since then he has not had any male lovers. He has decided to marry and have a conventional life and a family with Pedra whom he adores and who stood by him at the time however, he can’t seem to resist Mason no matter how hard he tries. When he sees Mason this time it’s even harder not to make love to him and eventually they are so hot for each other they decide to spend an afternoon together. The sex between them is emotive and raw and when Anton calls Mason Corazon (his love) he knows that he would not be able to stay with Miguel. But Anton feels that he can’t abandon Pedra who supported him when he was in trouble and he reaffirms his intention to marry her.

When Mason returns home he breaks it off with Miguel and moves out, leaving no forwarding address as he doesn’t expect that Anton would try to contact him. Will our two lovers ever reunite?

Calendar Boys May: Corazon is part of a continuing series by Jamie Craig and I really enjoyed this month’s story. Mason cares about Anton and wants to be with him but realizes that there would be many difficulties to resolve including living in two different countries. Anton is conflicted because he feels that he owes his loyalty to Pedra and leaving her for Mason, whom he loves, would test his integrity. How they resolve their issues and achieve their HEA makes for a very delightful story. The characterizations were terrific and believable. I felt that Pedra and Miguel were very shallow and oblivious to the needs of their partners and there seemed to be a real disconnect which left the door open for Mason and Anton to be happy together.