University of Southern Georgia: Davy & Tony

Title: University of Southern Georgia: Davy & Tony
Author: Heath Greenfield
Publisher: Torquere Press, LLC
Release Date: June 30, 2015
Genre(s): M/M Contemporary Romance
Page Count: 129 pages / 31200 words
Reviewed by: Belen
Heat Level: 4 flames out of 5
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Blurb:

Love is a funny thing…it happens when and where you least expect it.

Tony has been having a rough couple of days. His dad caught him with a dirty magazine, which would have been embarrassing enough. But when his dad realized it was a gay magazine, he chased Tony down the street. Luckily, Uncle Alfonso and Aunt Luciana have taken him in. Now, he’s out to the world, going to school during the day, and working in the family restaurant at night.

Davy has become what he always dreamed of being: an Army Ranger. He loves everything about it. He’s assigned to Fort Benning and works as an analyst. He also happens to be gay, but even with the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, he’s careful not to let his personal life get in the way of his professional goals. His friends know, but he’s never introduced them to anyone he has dated…until he meets Tony, who changes everything.

Between their sexual chemistry and their deepening friendship, their love seems fated, but when Davy is about to be deployed, he finds out something that rocks him to his core and makes him doubt both Tony and himself. He’s left wondering if he’s strong enough to win this battle.

You know how sometimes you read a blurb and it’s so awesome and speaks to you on some level? Then you shell out your hard earned cash and get the book and start reading…and it’s nothing like what you thought it was going to be?

This is so not one of those cases! The blurb is spot on and the love story between Antonio “Tony” Tartaglia and David “Davy” Baker had moments when it made me sigh and made me laugh out loud. It sucked me in and didn’t let me go until the final page.

Tony had the worst day ever yesterday when his father caught him with his pants down reading a porn magazine. A gay porn magazine. When his father’s temper erupts like a volcano, Tony pulls up his pants and runs, barefoot, out of his house. With nowhere else to go (and his feet shredded) he finds himself at his Uncle Al and Aunt Luciana’s place looking for a pair of shoes. They end up taking Tony in, clean him up, and tell him he’ll stay with them.

The following day, when Tony is working his volunteer job at the Library, he meets Davy for the first time. There’s definitely interest on both sides, though neither pursues anything. They end up seeing each other again when Davy sees Tony working at his Uncle’s restaurant that evening. After they keep bumping into one another Davy asks Tony out.

Their romance evolves very naturally and it is so nice to be along for the ride as their relationship develops, deepens and grows. Davy revels in being all of Tony’s “firsts” – and those scenes are scorching!

Davy has never been happier, his career’s on track, Tony is totally supportive of Davy’s career, they’re completely at ease with one another, and when Tony meets Davy’s friends he’s instantly well-received and liked. When Davy finds out he’s being deployed they’re both sad but willing to have a committed long-distance relationship. But when Uncle Al confronts Davy just before he leaves because he thinks Davy is taking advantage of Tony, Davy is absolutely floored by what he learns…and it all begins to unravel.

Spoiler: Tony is seventeen and a senior in high school. (Not to worry – The legal age of consent in Georgia, and for the Military, is sixteen.) Thing is it’s never a consideration and simply never comes up naturally in any of their conversations. Tony assumes Davy understands he’s younger, he doesn’t hide anything deliberately. He freely talks about his life and being “in school” – he just never actually says the words “high school” and it’s Davy who assumes Tony is in his early twenties. Uncle Al is devastated when he realizes Davy wasn’t taking advantage of Tony and Davy leaves telling Tony that can’t be together, because even though it’s “legal” it’s not right for Tony to be with him.

While Davy is deployed it gives Tony more time to grow up and for Davy to realize just how much Tony, and their relationship, means to him.

I cannot believe how fast I read this! I was so immersed in the story, and Davy and Tony’s relationship, I kept rooting for them right until their wonderful HEA.

I’m absolutely surprised Heath Greenfield is a first-time author – this is just fantastic.