Title: Second Time Around
Author: Bobby Michaels
Publisher: Loose-Id
Genre: M/M Paranormal, Shapeshifter
Length: Short Novel (122 pdf pages)
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
A Guest Review by Cole
Review Summary: A sweet story about two men finding their way back to each other and all they would do not to be parted again.
BLURB
David Stone returns to Star Harbor where he grew up to lick his wounds after finding out his lover of 10 years had been keeping a boy-toy on the side. His only real love, Josh Harrison, his childhood best friend, isn’t supposed to be in Star Harbor. He’s supposed to be in the Marine Corps.
But Josh has also returned to Star Harbor, and the Marine, now a cop, soon reveals that he’d been about to go looking for David, who mistakenly always thought Josh was straight! It’s not long before the two find themselves head over heels in love and heading toward happily ever after.
Then David learns he’s been infected with HIV by his last lover, and to save David’s life, Josh reveals his own secret: he’s a werewolf. And he can make David one.
REVIEW
I want to say, first off, that Bobby Michaels has been a favorite author of mine for a very long time. Back when I first started to read M/M, I used to read his archives on Nifty (seen here on his Yahoo Groups page), and then I fell in love with his Jock dorm series (reviewed by Lynn here : Dar and Gregg, Drew and Vince, and David and Connor). I decided recently to work my way through his other novels, which is how we end up here, with Second Time Around —
David is an antique dealer in San Fransisco, who upon finding another name on their car insurance, confronts his lover of ten years until he finds out the truth. Not only has his lover been cheating on him for months, but he’s also keeping the boy in a paid apartment and he has bought him a car. There is only one thing he can do — withdraw all their money, pack up, and move to his childhood home where he still keeps the house his parents left him after their tragic deaths. The good news is, his best friend from age five until their high school graduation, Josh, is away in the Marine Corp. Josh is the reason that David left Star Harbor in the first place. After having been in love with him for years, he can no longer allow himself to wish for something that will never happen — that his straight best friend will love him the way he does. Yet, at the grand opening of his new antique shop, who should walk in to say hello but Josh himself, having moved back the year before after his father’s death. Josh is a cop in Star Harbor, on the fast track to becoming Chief, and desperate to get his friend back. There are only two problems: David finds out that his ex-lover’s boyfriend has infected them both with HIV and Josh is a werewolf. If they come together, though, and David can allow it, Josh has the cure and it will allow them to stay together for many years to come.
This is a pretty typical romance, except with a few added elements that Bobby Michaels is famous for — namely the sex. For those of you who have never read a book by him, the sex tends to be very raunchy, with lots of smells, rimming, sniffing, licking. He likes to get pretty dirty with his characters. I was used to this and expecting it, and I was therefore surprised that the sex in here was quite a bit tamer. The sex is still incredibly hot, but its much more sweet and loving (though there are a few times…). Also, this story deals with a very serious topic, that of HIV. Because his prose is very different (sometimes even stilted and instructional about specific topics) I didn’t expect this story to be angsty at all, though the topic might lead you to believe it would. With a lot of authors, it would. Somehow, though, David and Josh find ways to endure this with humor and grace, which I suspect is due in part to the fact that Bobby Michaels has himself come out as HIV+. I can’t speak as a woman, but as a gay man I can tell you that even thinking about this topic terrifies me. Seeing it here, in a different light, made me very happy. I know that its not real life, that a werewolf could take away this crushing disease from those who have it, but it makes me wish it was. It makes it a bit more bearable to think that there is something to be done other than fight a long fight with uncertainty. That is the epitome of fantasy for me — that for an hour or two or three, I can be taken outside of my mind and body and visit a place that might be better, or even just a little different than mine.
I loved this story, just as I have loved his other books. I especially adored Pete and Rich, the young lovers David hired to help run his shop. However, Bobby Michaels is not for everyone, people tend to love his writing or hate it. If you are a fan of his work, this will definitely appeal to you, although it may be slightly different than others you have read. If you haven’t read anything by him, you might want to check out some of his work online, which I put a link to above. Though, be warned, the stuff he has posted on Nifty and such is a LOT dirtier and raunchier than his published stuff. There might be some scenes there that offend some readers (things like golden showers, etc.). This was a delight for me to read. Highly recommended.
Cole
Merry Christmas!
This is probably one of only 2 of Bobby’s books that I haven’t read (the other one is Marine Love). As you know I LOVE his writing, because it’s gritty, raunchy and real. No namby pamby stuff in his books although from what you say this one is a lot tamer than usual 🙂 but tame for Bobby is probably extreme for many authors who could never go ‘there.’
This sounds like a great read and I’m looking forward to it.
My favourite Bobby Michaels’ book is still Veterans: For the Love of the Corps which I have reveiwed and re-read more times than I can count.
Great job on the review and if you’re ever looking for another book about being HIV+, another of my favourite authors, Rick Reed, wrote NEG UB2 which I also reviewed.
I can’t wait to read Veterans, I’ve heard so many great things about it. Plus, I’ve loved all his books, so I’m sure I’ll love it.
I’ve seen that book by Rick, but I haven’t read many of his. I’ll check it out. Sometimes I think authors are afraid to write positive characters in this genre… too bad
Fabulous review, Cole! I’ve been a fan of Bobby’s for quite a while and have read pretty much all of his published stories, this one included. I really enjoyed it too.
I’ve read a few of his Nifty stories also although some were a bit much for me. 0_0 Very eye opening! 😉
Hey Lily!
Yeah, his stuff as Rimpig can be a bit much, huh? 🙂
I’m glad you liked this one too, I’m working my way through his backlist of all the ones I haven’t read and its a real treat.
I loved this book.
And have been waiting to see if there would be a sequel.
Hey Beth,
I wish there was a sequel too, but from what I understand Bobby has been in poor health lately. Let’s hope he’s doing well :). But yes, I loved this book, I wish we could have Pete and Rich’s story, especially since that cliffhanger!
Very nice review Cole! I remember reading this book a while back and loving it! Though David was a bit of a drama queen, though he had a right to be!
Yeah, you’re right Larissa! Drama aside, I thought David was really pretty brave. I’d probably have a freak out too in his place. lol.
Cole – I love Bobby Michael’s writing too. Yes it can bit a bit raunchy by some standards, but boy is it hot! I haven’t read this one, so thank you for the wonderful review. I’m definitely going to correct my oversight!
Hope you’re feeling better Cole. Sorry about the flu.
It is so hot! Sex in published m/m has moved really far away from the raunch, but if I ever want it, I know where to go. Although, there’s so much rimming sometimes I think I’ll go crazy reading about how much his characters like “butt-munching.” Its so funny, they are always saying things like: “Eat my ass, bitch!”
I’m getting better already, thanks TJ. I hope you had a good Christmas.
Yeah Cole, I know what you mean about the rimming. It can be a bit too much. After all there are a lot of other fun things men can do in bed! LOL
Glad you’re feeling better. Christmas was busy, but good. Although you were sick, I hope you at least got something good yourself.
Some of the authors were really nice and offered us a book or two (including your “Day-boy”) 🙂
Isn’t Ethan just the sweetest man? I’m not surprised at his generosity. He has a really good heart. I’m glad you all got a little something. You really deserve it!
I like the raunch, so it looks like I need to read a few more of this author’s stories. I enjoyed this one when I read it, but never looked any further into his writings.
Dayna,
You should check out his other works because this book is not really indicative of his usual style, especially raunch, which is not really that present here at all. If you really like raunch, and I mean really, check out his stuff on Nifty here. On the left sidebar, go down and click on Rimpig and you’ll get his collection of stories there. Otherwise, you should check out his reviews here. My favorites are the Jock Dorm series reviewed by Lynn, but Wave reviewed Veterans: For the Love of the Corps and has said its her favorite.
Thanks, Cole, I picked up the Jock Dorm series, I’ll get Veterans payday.
I hope you like them!
Hi Cole,
I totally agree with you! This is such a sweet story despite the serious theme and I would like to read a sequel featuring Pete and Rich. It was my first book from Bobby Michaels – and after reading it I got the Jock Dorm series (liked them very much) and Veterans: For the Love of the Corps (loved it but: Kleenex required)
Get better soon, thank you for your help on Christmas Eve and happy new year!
Thank you Susanne, I’m already on the mend 🙂
I’ve planned on reading Veterans very soon, as soon as I have finished doing my reviews for this week. I’m already nervous about it though, because I know I’m going to cry. The only other book I read that was about a man falling in love with two other men in sequence was Counterpoint by Ruth Sims. Oh god, I loved that book so much, but it took me forever to finish because I had to keep taking “cheer up” breaks (which is usually late-night reruns of That 70s Show). So I’m bracing myself for this one!
I swear, I’ll never be able to finish my TBR pile (it’s huge).
Yesterday, I was reading your review Cole, and I felt a sudden urge to revisit Bobby Michaels’ books (the same happened with Josh Lanyon), mostly because in my mind popped a very vivid scene about worshiping, tasting and smelling an uncut (I’m allowed to say the word cock?) “member, rod, pole, manhood” and I didn’t remember where I read it.
Of course I cried again reading For the love of the corps.
I think that Bobby was among the first M/M writers I ever read and I must say that through his books I really learned and truly understood the names and meaning of terms and acts involved in the love between two men. I didn’t have problems with any of them (after all, I enjoyed Wave’s post and naughty comments about armpits) but I can’t say that I read his “unofficial” stories.
Oops, I lied. There is a thing that makes me slightly uneasy, one thing that is fully and often depicted in Weekend Leave.
Thank you, Cole.
Alina,
I haven’t read Weekend Leave yet, so I’m not sure exactly which act you’re referring to. But I can only imagine which one it might be after reading so much of his work on Nifty. If something in his published work made you uneasy then the free stories really might 🙂
My reading tastes are always at the whim of the reviews because there are so many authors to go between and so many works by each of those authors… I find myself forgetting that I intended to read the rest of a series or the author’s other works just because there were so MANY things to read. It can be overwhelming, thats for sure!
Yow know how this uneasiness is for me? It’s like in horror movies (this comparison is bad but I hope you understand what I want to say) when you shut your eyes because you can’t stand to watch further, but in the same time you can’t resist open them because you can’t stand to not know what is happening.
As a matter of fact, I already read (today) several Nifty stories and I loved them. One reason is that most of them are true stories and show us the man behind the writer.
The fact that I’ll never, ever, be able to do most of those things (one obvious reason – I don’t have the right package) doesn’t mean I don’t understand why some people like them.
And I know and I understand not all of us are wired in the same way.
Bobby Michaels’ stories aren’t for everyone. The same rule applies for BDSM, domestic discipline an so on.
beautifully said, Alina 🙂
Bobby is visiting one of his buddies, Kate Steele, for the holidays right now. I’ll let him know about the review.
Treva! Thank you for letting him know, I appreciate it!
Great review, Cole! I must admit I haven’t read much from Bobby’s “Rimpig” works, but I think I have pretty much his whole backlist in my ebook library, and I really liked Second Time around. His depictions of the intensity and urgency of young lovers always gets me. The way he compares David and Josh’s story and that of the two young men that come to work in David’s shop is wonderful. His description of David’s trip to the city to get his HIV test done, and the people he meets, is so real and powerful, I hope it inspires people to support their local testing and LGBT community centers.
And you are quite right about the fascination Bobby has with some of the more, um, sensory aspects of gay sex. I think it’s probably a good thing that nobody has figured out how to do a “scratch and sniff” Bobby Michaels book…O_O
I agree, Librarian. I agree with all you said about STA, especially how he’s able to portray people in certain situations — young and in love (I LOVED Pete and Rich, who reminded me of two best friends I had in high school who were head over heels in love, but in the closet, from everyone, even me) and his trip into Seattle to visit the free clinic. That, I have to admit, must be the scariest situation you could be in, and one that all too many people are put in. It makes it even worse when combined with the portrayal of a lover, or a lifemate.
Lol. Yes, but the ultimate Bobby Michaels fans just might love that 😉
Cole – You were so right about this book. I picked it up and read it in a day and really enjoyed it! I really loved David and Josh. And Pete and Rich were such great secondary characters that I would love to read their story too. Thanks again for the rec.
Hey TJ! I’m so happy that you liked it as much as I did. There’s just something about all of Bobby Michael’s characters — I always love them