The Boy Who Came In From the Cold

Title: The Boy Who Came In From the Cold (The Boy Who Came in From the Cold #1)
Author: B.G. Thomas and Charlie David (Narrator)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC
Release Date: April 9th 2014
Genre(s): M/M Contemporary Romance
Length: 7 hours and 57 minutes
Reviewed by: Belen
Heat Level: 2.5 flames out of 5
Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5

Blurb:

Todd Burton has had enough of small-town Buckman. His abusive stepfather calls him a fag; his friend Austin makes him realize he may be gay, but Todd doesn’t want to admit his stepfather is right; and he dreams of being a chef. Three good reasons to flee his hometown and pursue greener pastures. But when Todd reaches the big city, his luck runs dry. Soon he can’t pay his rent and gets evicted. In the middle of a snowstorm.

Gabe Richards is a wealthy businessman with enough wounds of his own to make him afraid of ever being intimate again. But when he sees Todd outside his building, freezing to death, he takes pity on him and takes him in from the cold.

To their mutual surprise, Todd and Gabe find themselves drawn to each other. “One night” turns into a week. Maybe letting a man in from the cold can melt the ice around Gabe’s heart—and maybe getting evicted will turn Todd’s luck around.

NOTE: The rating is entirely due to Charlie David’s performance. Once again, Charlie David delivers an entertaining production that cuts some of the too-saccharine sweetness from the story, leaving only enjoyment in it’s wake.

This is one of those times when the story itself doesn’t resonate deeply but I like the narration so much it elevates the final rating much higher than it would be as if I had simply read the story.

This is an insta-love heavy-dose romance (they know each other a week before the I-Love-You’s are exchanged) Cinderfella story. Todd is the down on his luck kid from a small town who’s been tossed out of his place on the eve of one of the biggest snowstorms to hit Kansas City, MO in years. Gabe is the out and proud gay man who helps him in spite of Todd’s constant problem with foot-in-mouth disease.

Spoiler

Todd’s abusive stepfather has drilled into Todd that all gays are cocksucking faggots who like to fuck and cut little children. Todd has constant off-putting inner dialogue that repeats the horrible, heinous things his stepfather has told him over the years. That and the whole side story with Todd’s mother and stepfather – is what would have made me crazy had I just been reading the story.

Kudos to Charlie David for making even those moments palatable.

Told from a dual perspective, I far more enjoyed the times I was in Gabe’s POV from when I was in Todd’s. Gabe was just so sweet, understanding, loving, sexy…he’s a bit of a paragon really, so it’s good Todd was there to temper that because that could have gotten old really fast.

B.G. Thomas believes in character substance over heat – so the sexy times are not plentiful, but what’s there was definitely enjoyable – and I did like the character development enough to continue the series.

Bottom Line: Thoroughly entertaining thanks to Charlie David!

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