The Queen and the Homo Jock King (Renée’s review)

Title: The Queen and the Homo Jock King (Tell Me It’s Real #2)
Author: TJ Klune
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: February 29, 2016
Genre(s): Contemporary
Page Count: 350
Reviewed by: Renée
Heat Level:  2 flames out of 5
Rating:   4 stars out of 5
Blurb:

Do you believe in love at first sight?

Sanford Stewart sure doesn’t. In fact, he pretty much believes in the exact opposite, thanks to the Homo Jock King. It seems Darren Mayne lives for nothing more than to create chaos in Sandy’s perfectly ordered life, just for the hell of it. Sandy despises him, and nothing will ever change his mind.

Or so he tells himself.

It’s not until the owner of Jack It—the club where Sandy performs as drag queen Helena Handbasket—comes to him with a desperate proposition that Sandy realizes he might have to put his feelings about Darren aside. Because Jack It will close unless someone can convince Andrew Taylor, the mayor of Tucson, to keep it open.

Someone like Darren, the mayor’s illegitimate son.

The foolproof plan is this: seduce Darren and push him to convince his father to renew Jack It’s contract with the city.

Simple, right?

Wrong.

We met Sandy in Tell Me It’s Real and saw his fierceness, his loyalty. We saw it again in Ty and Dominic’s story, The Art of Breathing(damn you TJ for the number of tissues I went through on THAT book), when Corey/Kori moves in with Sandy. So I’ve always appreciated the dichotomy of Sanford Stewart and his drag show character, Helena Handbasket. Sandy thinks they’re very different. He thinks Helena is fierce and strong, while he’s more meek and introverted. *Snort* That may be how Sandy feels, but there is nothing meek or introverted about Sanford Stewart either. In his defense, Kanye West seems meek and introverted compared to Helena.

We’ve known for a long time that Sandy “hates” Darren Mayne, the King of the Homo Jocks. But no one knows why. And he’s not sharing. But now that we’re completely in Sandy’s POV, things come to light. And I gotta say, I was kinda shocked and in complete agreement with the hurt feelings. Stupid TJ and his stupid tissues.

But here’s the thing…..there isn’t really animosity. If what had gone down years ago had led to animosity, at this point in time, Sandy would barely care. He’d acknowledge Darren as someone who’s around because of his best friend, Paul, but that’s it. He wouldn’t feel the need to antagonize Darren. He wouldn’t push his buttons. Not to mention, their mutual friends/family have been telling them for years now that they each have feelings for the other, but neither believe that load of “bullshit.”

”Because I’m so inclined to help you right this second.”
“Hey! You should be. This is, like, super important.”
“Like, really?” [Darren] mocked. “Like, super important?”

What Sandy and Darren really have is flirting and foreplay. YEARS of it. Can you imagine? It was really funny and amazing once you got past the fact that it wasn’t all immature snark. What the feelings behind it were truly about. And it became painful. I was sad for them. Knowing what Sandy went through because of Darren, even though it’s many years later. And the readers know how much they care about each other. And so knowing what Darren is continuing to go through now because of Sandy. Yeah……it was flirting and foreplay. But it was painful because TJ sneaks up on you and punches you in the feelz!

This book has exactly what you’d expect from one of TJ’s more humorous stories. There’s OTT jokes. There’s mayhem. There’re secondary characters who you remember so fondly from Book 1, you will smile for days. Vince still has my heart.

”He would’ve gotten away with it too,” Vince said, “if it hadn’t been for you meddling queens.”
“I’m teaching him sarcasm,” Paul said as I gaped at Vince.
“I’m learning to be a bitch,” Vince said proudly.

I will say that with only Sandy’s POV, which is typical of TJ to only do one MC and I’m normally not missing a THING, I was missing something in this one. I felt that Darren’s character wasn’t nearly explored enough in this book. I didn’t get to know him as much as I wanted to.

Other than that, this was a fun read that was exactly what I was expecting with some sweet moments, some funny moments, and some OTT moments. This book was perfectly set up for the next in the series, which will likely feature Corey/Kori.

Congratulations to Sandy and Darren for the longest foreplay in the history of forever!

”I’ve been watching you for years,” [Darren] said, unbearably smug. “I would know you anywhere.”

 

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