Nate and the New Yorker (Lily G’s Review)

Title: Nate and the New Yorker
Author: Kevin Klehr
Publisher: Wilde City Press
Release Date: March 18th 2016
Genre(s): Contemporary romance, cross-dressing, paranormal
Page Count: 87
Reviewed by: Lily G Blunt
Heat Level:  0 flames out of 5
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
Blurb:

Cameron has it all. He’s rich, lives in Manhattan, and even has a cross-dressing butler. But then he meets Nate, an Australian who’s bitter about love. Cameron is determined to turn this realist into a dreamer by sharing his world of classy restaurants, Broadway shows and fabulous parties. And while Nate’s friends see the makings of a fantasy romance, it’s Nate who has to learn that in order to open his heart, he has to face a painful secret.

I liked the premise of this story, of two very different men from opposite sides of the globe randomly meeting in Prague and being instantly attracted to each other. And as it happens, one of them is super rich so he can pay the airfare so they get to see each other again. And that’s okay. It is fiction after all.

At the start of the story,  I was hoping Cameron would be the person to enable Nate to get back with his ex, but unfortunately, that wasn’t meant to be. My heart ached a little for poor Elliot. I liked his poignant storyline the most.

I  didn’t feel the chemistry between Nate and his New Yorker.  All the sex they have happens off the page, and sex rather than lovemaking is implied. Nate frequently refers to Cameron as his ‘charming American’ and that made him come across as an older guy than he was. Yes, they are both good looking and attractive, but for most of the story there’s no real connection between them, and I wondered why they made the effort to see each other. Before their first proper date they spend time arguing about who’s going to pay for the evening and at that point I thought the relationship seemed a non-starter.

I felt much was missing from the portrayal of their relationship development, especially as the plot relies heavily on dialogue to tell the story at times, with little in the way of action beats or inner thoughts to show emotions and reactions.  The first chapter begins mid-conversation between several characters and it takes a while to get your head around what’s happening and who’s who.

The friends and the cross-dressing butler—Roger/Rowena—add a touch of light relief, and offer useful advice to the would-be lovers too.

The novella has an unusual and original tone to it, so if you feel like trying a different style, give this a go.

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