A More Perfect Union

Title: A More Perfect Union
Author(s): B.G. Thomas, J. Scott Coatsworth, Jamie Fessenden, Michael Murphy
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: June 26, 2016
Genre(s): Contemporary Anthology
Page Count: 350
Reviewed by: Crabbypatty
Heat Level: 3 flames out of 5
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Blurb:

On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States made a monumental decision, and at long last, marriage equality became the law of the land. That ruling made history, and now gay and lesbian Americans will grow up in a country where they will never be denied the right to marry the person they love.

But what about the gay men who waited and wondered all of their lives if the day would ever come when they could stand beside the person they love and say, “I do?”

Here, four accomplished authors—married gay men—offer their take on that question as they explore same-sex relationships, love, and matrimony. Men who thought legal marriage was a right they would never have. Men who, unbelievably, now stand legally joined with the men they love. With this book, they share the magic and excitement of dreams that came true—in tales of fantasy and romance with a dose of their personal experiences in the mix.

To commemorate the anniversary of full marriage equality in the US, this anthology celebrates the idea of marriage itself, and the universal truth of it that applies to us all, gay or straight.

On June 26, 2015, President Barack Obama stood in the Rose Garden and made this remark about the Supreme Court Decision on Marriage Equality: ” … today, we can say in no uncertain terms that we’ve made our union a little more perfect. That’s the consequence of a decision from the Supreme Court, but, more importantly, it is a consequence of the countless small acts of courage of millions of people across decades who stood up, who came out, who talked to parents — parents who loved their children no matter what. Folks who were willing to endure bullying and taunts, and stayed strong, and came to believe in themselves and who they were, and slowly made an entire country realize that love is love.”

The Dreamspinner Press anthology “A More Perfect Union” shares four stories that are a fitting celebratory anthology for the first anniversary of the historic Supreme Court decision.

Flames by J. Scott Coatsworth – Alex and Gio have been together for ten years, and while Gio wants to get married, Alex does not. One night Alex comes home in a bad mood to find Gio making a special dinner. Alex argues with Gio, storms out, gets drunk, turns off his cell, and awakens the next day in a motel only to learn Gio is in the hospital in a coma with burns, after a fire destroyed their home.

Family drama ensues because Alex cannot make medical decisions for Gio, but with the help of a friendly nurse, he is able to spend the nights with Gio and starts telling stories about various items from their home – the little teddy bear Alex won for Gio at the fair, the ornate headboard they purchased in Mexico, etc. In Gio’s coma, he hears the stories and the items start populating his foggy dream-like world. When Alex returns to their home and finds a set of wedding rings in the remains of Gio’s bedside table, he realizes what Gio was going to ask him that night of the fire. A well-deserved fairy tale ending to this sweet story.

Jeordi and Tom by Michael Murphy – Jeordi and Tom, from nowhere Kentucky, live in a trailer and work minimum wage jobs with no insurance, but they have each other. When Jeordi is injured and taken to the hospital, his family attempts to keep Tom from his side. Trying to get married in their hometown, they are denied a license (think hell spawn of Kim Davis) and end up making a special trip to Washington DC in search of a marriage license, meeting an older gay couple who helps them, saying:

We’re brothers. We’re part of the brotherhood of gay men. We take care of one another. That’s just what we do. We’re family. Sometimes our other families don’t understand us, the real us, but your gay brothers understand exactly. We take care of one another when and where we can.

Destined by Jamie Fessenden – Jay and Wallace first meet years ago in the mid 1990’s and eventually find their way back to each other. But their HEA is only the beginning, as they move into together, support gay rights legislation in their state, buy a house (with their first offer perhaps turned down because they are gay), survive family struggles, get a dog, and have a lovely Victorian / pagan wedding. I liked how we readers are invited to share Jay and Wallace’s lives over an extended period of time.

Someday by B.G. Thomas – Lucas has loved Dalton since he was five and six-year-old Dalton taught him to tie his shoelaces. Lucas never wavered from that love, but it took Dalton a lot longer to realize he felt the same way. A sweet story with a cartoonish villain tossed in, but a beautiful HEA.

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