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Lickety Split
Lickety Love won’t wait. Patch Hastle grew up in a hurry, ditching East Texas for NYC to make his name as a DJ and model without ever looking back. When his parents die unexpectedly, he heads home to unload the family farm ASAP and skedaddle. Except the will left Patch’s worst enemy in his father’s handsome best friend who made his high school years hell. Tucker Biggs is going nowhere. Twenty years past his rodeo days, he’s put down roots as the caretaker of the Hastle farm. He knows his buddy’s smartass son still hates his guts, but when Patch shows up growed-up, looking like sin in tight denim, Tucker turns his homecoming into a lesson about old dogs and new kinks. Patch and Tucker fool around, but they can’t fool themselves. Once the farm’s sold, they mean to call it quits and head off to separate sunsets. With the clock ticking, the city slicker and his down-home hick get roped into each other’s life. If they’re gonna last longer than spit on a griddle, they better figure out what matters—fast.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 13, 2017
99 people are currently reading
753 people want to read
About the author
Damon Suede
21 books2,214 followersDamon Suede grew up out-n-proud deep in the anus of right-wing America, and escaped as soon as it was legal. He has lived all over and along the way, he’s earned his crust as a model, a messenger, a promoter, a programmer, a sculptor, a singer, a stripper, a bookkeeper, a bartender, a techie, a teacher, a director... but writing has ever been his bread and butter. He has been happily partnered for over a decade with the most loving, handsome, shrewd, hilarious, noble man to walk this planet.
Beyond romance fiction, Damon is an award-winning author who has been writing for print, stage, and screen for over three decades, which is both more and less glamorous than you might imagine. He's won some awards, but he counts his blessings more often: his amazing friends, his demented family, his beautiful husband, his loyal fans, and his silly, stern, seductive Muse who keeps whispering in his ear, year after year.
Damon would love to hear from you... you can get in touch with him here.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
March 30, 2017
3.5 Stars.
March 10, 2017
I don't know how to start.
After reading the blurb for Lickety Split, I was super excited.
Age gap + deceased dad's best friend + unrequited love
I mean- hello! I couldn't wait to get my hands on this. And to be fair, the book was well written. I promise you this is a case of:
If the story was well-written why wasn't a slam dunk? Well, it comes down to personal preferences. I just didn't care for Tucker. Tucker was Patch's dad's best friend. Growing up Patch always had a thing for the big guy, but Tucker just looked at him as a pain in the butt kid. When Patch came back to settle his parent's estate- he was all grown up, and Tucker noticed. My issue with Tucker is that he was just rough. He spoke crudely- he made me cringe sometimes. I'm no saint here, but when he opened his mouth, I felt uncomfortable. He also had children spread around- didn't know how many, never bothered to find out. Then there's his drawl; I couldn't understand what he was saying at times and having to turn around and re-read a passage disrupted the pace of the story.
Now don't get me wrong, Tucker wasn't all bad. Although I never completely warmed up to him there was no denying his feelings for Patch and that his happiness came first. Despite my reservations about them as a couple, they did fit together. Here's where I'm conflicted:
1. Can I say I enjoyed this book 100%? No, because I had issues with one of the main characters making it difficult to thoroughly enjoy the book.
2. Did the author make me believe in Patch and Tucker despite my lack of warmth for Tucker? Yes, he did. Tucker was who he was and made no apologies, and his actions towards Patch spoke volumes.
I struggled with what to rate this book. Personal enjoyment: I'd say a 3. Three means I liked it- didn't love it. But I can't help but feel that that's too low because the story telling was there that if I'd been able to separate my feelings about Tucker, I'd have enjoyed it more. I'd give the writing 4 Stars. In the end, I'll give this 3.5 Stars. Sorry for the rambling. Lol, I had honestly not known what to rate this until the end of this review.
Oh, and do I recommend it? I do. Because in the end, I do believe it's a good story.
**Review to be crossposted soon to Gay Book Reviews.
After reading the blurb for Lickety Split, I was super excited.
Age gap + deceased dad's best friend + unrequited love
I mean- hello! I couldn't wait to get my hands on this. And to be fair, the book was well written. I promise you this is a case of:
If the story was well-written why wasn't a slam dunk? Well, it comes down to personal preferences. I just didn't care for Tucker. Tucker was Patch's dad's best friend. Growing up Patch always had a thing for the big guy, but Tucker just looked at him as a pain in the butt kid. When Patch came back to settle his parent's estate- he was all grown up, and Tucker noticed. My issue with Tucker is that he was just rough. He spoke crudely- he made me cringe sometimes. I'm no saint here, but when he opened his mouth, I felt uncomfortable. He also had children spread around- didn't know how many, never bothered to find out. Then there's his drawl; I couldn't understand what he was saying at times and having to turn around and re-read a passage disrupted the pace of the story.
Now don't get me wrong, Tucker wasn't all bad. Although I never completely warmed up to him there was no denying his feelings for Patch and that his happiness came first. Despite my reservations about them as a couple, they did fit together. Here's where I'm conflicted:
1. Can I say I enjoyed this book 100%? No, because I had issues with one of the main characters making it difficult to thoroughly enjoy the book.
2. Did the author make me believe in Patch and Tucker despite my lack of warmth for Tucker? Yes, he did. Tucker was who he was and made no apologies, and his actions towards Patch spoke volumes.
I struggled with what to rate this book. Personal enjoyment: I'd say a 3. Three means I liked it- didn't love it. But I can't help but feel that that's too low because the story telling was there that if I'd been able to separate my feelings about Tucker, I'd have enjoyed it more. I'd give the writing 4 Stars. In the end, I'll give this 3.5 Stars. Sorry for the rambling. Lol, I had honestly not known what to rate this until the end of this review.
Oh, and do I recommend it? I do. Because in the end, I do believe it's a good story.
**Review to be crossposted soon to Gay Book Reviews.
March 25, 2017
Underwear model and circuit party DJ Patch Hastle leaves the partying scene of Ibiza in a hurry to return to his tometown of Hixville, Texas, after learning that his parents died tragically in an accident.
Patch feels numb inside. At age 16, he fled the conservative town, his strict parents and bigoted neighbors to make a life for himself in New York, where a hot young stud like him could make it big without anyone hating on him for being different.
Patch, now 22, is saddened to learn that his parents have passed away, but he never considered his childhood to be a happy one, so he doesn't feel like his world is shattering over it. After all, his greatest dream is opening a dance club in New York and selling his parents' farm and estate could make that dream finally come true!
However, Patch learns that his dad stated his ranch hand and best friend, Tucker Biggs, as the estate's executor and caretaker.
Patch remembers Tucker, the hot cowboy jerk who fucked every girl in town, has bastards all over the county and picked on a teen-aged Patch for being gay and different. Patch hated Tucker, but as a kid, he also felt attracted to the handsome rough older guy - a combination that he never liked one bit.
He's furious to find out that Tucker - of all people - could now shatter his dreams of opening his own club with his parents' money.
Tucker, however, isn't what Patch made him out to be - and coming home after all those years, Tucker helps him learn more about himself, his land and his family than Patch ever knew. And maybe running off at age 16 wasn't the right decision to start with.
Damon Suede sure is a master with words!
Tucker's distinctive Texan drawl totally went under my skin. I absolutely fell for the older cowboy.
The sex was hot and absolutely unique, unlike anything I've ever seen in other books. It was real cowboy sex, if that's even a thing. Down to earth and salty. Like two wolves rubbing their scent all over and marking each other. It was wild!
Tucker is probably the only guy ever who fixes his own lube - foaling lube from powder! Stays greasy all night long if necessary. That tells you all about Tucker's bedroom habits ;-)
I especially liked how we only get to see Patch's take on things and are left in the dark about what Tucker thinks and wants in his life.
Lots of very powerful scenes, a charismatic MC (I mean Tucker - Patch was a bit difficult to like) and the beautiful countryside of rural Texas:
A hidden and long abandoned graveyard, a catfish pond for skinny dipping - the settings for this story were simply amazing.
I didn't like the circuit party scene at all, though. I seriously wonder what Patch ever saw in that.
Still, this was literally the perfect Cowboy romance! It really moved my heart and was just the right side of complicated and angsty.
5 stars and a favorite!
March 21, 2017
I was very impressed with this latest novel by Damon Suede. The writing is outstanding with many terrific lines and metaphors.
And so Patch Hassle made it back to Hixville in one piece, ready to burn all his bridges and bury the hatchet in someone's head.
Patch returns home to East Texas to settle his parents estate after they're killed in a car-meets-train accident. He has only crappy memories of growing up there, he hasn't been back in 7 years, and all he wants to do is sell the place so he has money to buy into a new club in NYC.
Well, we all know how plans like that turn out in romance books.
The main point of interest in Hixville, and in the story, is Tucker, the 40-something ranch hand, once best friend of Patch's father, who still lives there. Patch's memories of Tucker are of constantly lusting after his fine ass and also being unfairly picked on by Tucker for being gay.
Tucker is an intriguing character. He grew up in a terrible home and repeatedly had people check out on him in life, despite his being a gorgeous specimen. He's initially nothing more than a straight-guy fantasy to Patch, with multiple ex girlfriends and bastard children scattered around the county. And yet, Patch learns that Tucker regularly fools around with "buddies" (Tucker doesn't consider this "gay"), and he's open to fooling around with Patch too.
The book is an interesting pastiche of genres. The first half reads like a hard-core gay erotica book, almost vintage in feel. There're dozens of names for dick (eg "beer can") and sperm and other sweaty, beefy descriptions that Patch himself equates to a "straight cowboy/daddy kink". The sex scenes come early and are very kinky. It's like Tom of Finland in prose.
But in the second half the book turns into a romance, with Patch developing real feelings for Tucker, who was previously merely fantasy fodder, and the two of them sharing real moments of understanding. My favorite bit was when Patch took Tucker to New Orleans. Tucker has never been anywhere in his life, and his joy at seeing something new is palpable.
The mix of hard core erotica with softer romance isn't always smooth and some things are never fully justified or explained--like why Tucker was nasty to Patch growing up, how Tucker was on the rodeo circuit yet never traveled anywhere, or how Tucker comes to terms with being in a long-term relationship with a man when previously he insisted he wasn't gay. Patch's character is prone to being rather whiny and flaky and he does some hurtful things. BUT. I still give this book a happy 5 stars for being so much more ambitious than most books in this genre, for the extremely talented writing style, for the Texas drawl, for the amazing character of Tucker, and the make-my-heart-so-happy ending.
Applause for Damon Suede. Yessir, very good sir.
And so Patch Hassle made it back to Hixville in one piece, ready to burn all his bridges and bury the hatchet in someone's head.
Patch returns home to East Texas to settle his parents estate after they're killed in a car-meets-train accident. He has only crappy memories of growing up there, he hasn't been back in 7 years, and all he wants to do is sell the place so he has money to buy into a new club in NYC.
Well, we all know how plans like that turn out in romance books.
The main point of interest in Hixville, and in the story, is Tucker, the 40-something ranch hand, once best friend of Patch's father, who still lives there. Patch's memories of Tucker are of constantly lusting after his fine ass and also being unfairly picked on by Tucker for being gay.
Tucker is an intriguing character. He grew up in a terrible home and repeatedly had people check out on him in life, despite his being a gorgeous specimen. He's initially nothing more than a straight-guy fantasy to Patch, with multiple ex girlfriends and bastard children scattered around the county. And yet, Patch learns that Tucker regularly fools around with "buddies" (Tucker doesn't consider this "gay"), and he's open to fooling around with Patch too.
The book is an interesting pastiche of genres. The first half reads like a hard-core gay erotica book, almost vintage in feel. There're dozens of names for dick (eg "beer can") and sperm and other sweaty, beefy descriptions that Patch himself equates to a "straight cowboy/daddy kink". The sex scenes come early and are very kinky. It's like Tom of Finland in prose.
But in the second half the book turns into a romance, with Patch developing real feelings for Tucker, who was previously merely fantasy fodder, and the two of them sharing real moments of understanding. My favorite bit was when Patch took Tucker to New Orleans. Tucker has never been anywhere in his life, and his joy at seeing something new is palpable.
The mix of hard core erotica with softer romance isn't always smooth and some things are never fully justified or explained--like why Tucker was nasty to Patch growing up, how Tucker was on the rodeo circuit yet never traveled anywhere, or how Tucker comes to terms with being in a long-term relationship with a man when previously he insisted he wasn't gay. Patch's character is prone to being rather whiny and flaky and he does some hurtful things. BUT. I still give this book a happy 5 stars for being so much more ambitious than most books in this genre, for the extremely talented writing style, for the Texas drawl, for the amazing character of Tucker, and the make-my-heart-so-happy ending.
Applause for Damon Suede. Yessir, very good sir.
April 28, 2017
Hot and poignant.
Is the past what we remember? Man, this was some angsty, mental churning, and emotion flailing as Patch heads home to deal with the business of death. Alright, so the whole funeral and going home is a time bomb we all freaking deal with, some younger than others. Regardless, it's a minefield of the present, past, and what never was, and what everyone thinks, and tasks, decisions. and the detritus of lifetimes.
And four years ain't even that long. A drip. A blink. Still you're different, and so is everyone you left behind. Patch gets pulled in and has to reconcile his memories, his insecurities, and the reality which is like a carnival of different rides. The merry-go-ride of doing the same thing and getting nowhere. The funhouse mirrors of distorted perceptions, in which you find that you might have perceived things through a slightly different filter than others. The delicious and will kill you foods that you can't resist. But the piece de resistance if the crazy loop-to-loop of desire and the nausea it induces.
Patch and Tuck have some history. Let's just say that it gets worked over quite extensively--ahem, repeatedly. This is some earthy, get down and dirty bodily appreciation with a sweet side of rope and daddy kink. And boy does this ring my daddy kink bell near perfect. Honestly, there's only one hiccup I hit and that was Patch's replay of some mental blocks, which yes, realistically is a multistage process, but slowed things down, but once the coy circling stopped even with the sidesteps this pushed through fast.
I think this appealed to me because it dealt with the theme of going home, a small town and while I didn't grow up stateside I had a cow pasture behind my house as a kid and ran barefoot through the fields and everything in it for years, climbing trees to eat fresh fruit, and escape cattle. And my barbwire scar is my favorite, used to rub it while I fell asleep to remind me of myself. So, yeah, this resonated with me.
Is the past what we remember? Man, this was some angsty, mental churning, and emotion flailing as Patch heads home to deal with the business of death. Alright, so the whole funeral and going home is a time bomb we all freaking deal with, some younger than others. Regardless, it's a minefield of the present, past, and what never was, and what everyone thinks, and tasks, decisions. and the detritus of lifetimes.
And four years ain't even that long. A drip. A blink. Still you're different, and so is everyone you left behind. Patch gets pulled in and has to reconcile his memories, his insecurities, and the reality which is like a carnival of different rides. The merry-go-ride of doing the same thing and getting nowhere. The funhouse mirrors of distorted perceptions, in which you find that you might have perceived things through a slightly different filter than others. The delicious and will kill you foods that you can't resist. But the piece de resistance if the crazy loop-to-loop of desire and the nausea it induces.
Patch and Tuck have some history. Let's just say that it gets worked over quite extensively--ahem, repeatedly. This is some earthy, get down and dirty bodily appreciation with a sweet side of rope and daddy kink. And boy does this ring my daddy kink bell near perfect. Honestly, there's only one hiccup I hit and that was Patch's replay of some mental blocks, which yes, realistically is a multistage process, but slowed things down, but once the coy circling stopped even with the sidesteps this pushed through fast.
I think this appealed to me because it dealt with the theme of going home, a small town and while I didn't grow up stateside I had a cow pasture behind my house as a kid and ran barefoot through the fields and everything in it for years, climbing trees to eat fresh fruit, and escape cattle. And my barbwire scar is my favorite, used to rub it while I fell asleep to remind me of myself. So, yeah, this resonated with me.
March 16, 2017
3.5 stars
This book is a hard one to review. I thought the writing and storytelling was really good but there were things I didn't like about it. Most of those things though are personal preferences so...on one hand I didn't like this book but on the other, I liked it a lot (yes, helpful I know).
Patch heads back to the small town in Texas where he grew up to settle his parent's estate. His dad's best friend Tucker still lives on the property and is caretaking. Patch had a crush on Tucker as a teen but the older man was always mean to him so he's dreading seeing him again. For the first 30% of the book I didn't like Tucker. Not at all. He has had a life of running around on women, stealing from an ex and leaving a bunch of kids all over that he never took care of. (the kid thing is a hard limit for me) By 60% I found myself warming to him a bit. I think the thing that stands out about this for me is the author never makes excuses for him or tries to pretty up his past. Tucker is what he is. As the story goes on both Patch and the reader see this and learn to accept it. The good in him slowly unfolds and I have to say he treated Patch wonderfully and with the utmost care. By the end there is no doubt in your mind he loves Patch and he'll do anything he can for him.
The whole thing made me think a lot as I was reading this. I didn't necessary like Tucker and I wouldn't in a million years get involved with someone like him but at the same time I could see the beauty in their relationship. I think that it is a great piece of storytelling when the author can make you care about a character you don't actually like. I had spent the first 60-70% hoping Patch would go back to his life in New York but somehow as the story unfolded I found that I had somehow bought into this relationship hook, line and sinker. All the things I had been worried about (the age gap, the lifestyle differences, the life experience differences) all just melted away and I found myself rooting for these two to get a hea. On a side note, I also liked how the author handled the age gap and their past. Super realistic imo and not something you see often in romance stories.
Two of my biggest issues though were the slang and the crudeness of the story. They, especially Tucker, talk in heavy Southern slang and there were entire passages where I didn't know what the heck he was talking about. In fact, there is this huge pivotal moment in their relationship towards the end and I literally don't know most of what was said. I read it 3x and then just decided to go with it. I got the general idea. I found this frustrating because it did impact my overall enjoyment. I think I missed some of the emotions by not understanding scenes.
And my biggest complaint.....the crudeness. Gah....it was horrible for me. A sex scene would start off and it would be kind of hot or kind of romantic and then Tucker would open his mouth and it would shoot straight into gross territory for me. This is a really personal preference though so this may not be an issue for other readers. Some examples were: "releasing his meat", "You got a big load stored up for me? You carrying a lotta squirt in them balls?", "the fat rammer", "his fat branch", "he kissed the juice of Tucker's knob", "He bent to suck the sauce off". These were just never ending and I swear the word "dick" was never used and "cock" only once. It was constantly his "meat" (which I find so, so gross) and a million other euphemisms. (euphemisms are a pet peeve of mine which didn't help). SO........different strokes for different folks and all that. I'm including these examples because I know a lot of people told me they didn't like Hot Head due to the crudeness. I had no issue with that book, in fact I loved it, so be prepared. If it was too crude for you this is probably not going to work. (I'm just giving little examples....the sex scenes were all pretty crude.) On another note, there was a Hot Head easter egg which made me smile. I love when author's do those.
I have really mixed feelings about this. Huge portions of it I didn't like and even by the end I didn't love Tucker but, I really felt the love between these two men. I felt their emotions so strongly and there's a scene towards the end where Tucker lays his feelings out that was really beautiful. I think the author did a really good job on making this relationship feel real and turn out good. Big kudos to him for doing this and for writing a romance outside the box.
**I was also really amused that the town this takes place in is called Hixsville**
This book is a hard one to review. I thought the writing and storytelling was really good but there were things I didn't like about it. Most of those things though are personal preferences so...on one hand I didn't like this book but on the other, I liked it a lot (yes, helpful I know).
Patch heads back to the small town in Texas where he grew up to settle his parent's estate. His dad's best friend Tucker still lives on the property and is caretaking. Patch had a crush on Tucker as a teen but the older man was always mean to him so he's dreading seeing him again. For the first 30% of the book I didn't like Tucker. Not at all. He has had a life of running around on women, stealing from an ex and leaving a bunch of kids all over that he never took care of. (the kid thing is a hard limit for me) By 60% I found myself warming to him a bit. I think the thing that stands out about this for me is the author never makes excuses for him or tries to pretty up his past. Tucker is what he is. As the story goes on both Patch and the reader see this and learn to accept it. The good in him slowly unfolds and I have to say he treated Patch wonderfully and with the utmost care. By the end there is no doubt in your mind he loves Patch and he'll do anything he can for him.
The whole thing made me think a lot as I was reading this. I didn't necessary like Tucker and I wouldn't in a million years get involved with someone like him but at the same time I could see the beauty in their relationship. I think that it is a great piece of storytelling when the author can make you care about a character you don't actually like. I had spent the first 60-70% hoping Patch would go back to his life in New York but somehow as the story unfolded I found that I had somehow bought into this relationship hook, line and sinker. All the things I had been worried about (the age gap, the lifestyle differences, the life experience differences) all just melted away and I found myself rooting for these two to get a hea. On a side note, I also liked how the author handled the age gap and their past. Super realistic imo and not something you see often in romance stories.
Two of my biggest issues though were the slang and the crudeness of the story. They, especially Tucker, talk in heavy Southern slang and there were entire passages where I didn't know what the heck he was talking about. In fact, there is this huge pivotal moment in their relationship towards the end and I literally don't know most of what was said. I read it 3x and then just decided to go with it. I got the general idea. I found this frustrating because it did impact my overall enjoyment. I think I missed some of the emotions by not understanding scenes.
And my biggest complaint.....the crudeness. Gah....it was horrible for me. A sex scene would start off and it would be kind of hot or kind of romantic and then Tucker would open his mouth and it would shoot straight into gross territory for me. This is a really personal preference though so this may not be an issue for other readers. Some examples were: "releasing his meat", "You got a big load stored up for me? You carrying a lotta squirt in them balls?", "the fat rammer", "his fat branch", "he kissed the juice of Tucker's knob", "He bent to suck the sauce off". These were just never ending and I swear the word "dick" was never used and "cock" only once. It was constantly his "meat" (which I find so, so gross) and a million other euphemisms. (euphemisms are a pet peeve of mine which didn't help). SO........different strokes for different folks and all that. I'm including these examples because I know a lot of people told me they didn't like Hot Head due to the crudeness. I had no issue with that book, in fact I loved it, so be prepared. If it was too crude for you this is probably not going to work. (I'm just giving little examples....the sex scenes were all pretty crude.) On another note, there was a Hot Head easter egg which made me smile. I love when author's do those.
I have really mixed feelings about this. Huge portions of it I didn't like and even by the end I didn't love Tucker but, I really felt the love between these two men. I felt their emotions so strongly and there's a scene towards the end where Tucker lays his feelings out that was really beautiful. I think the author did a really good job on making this relationship feel real and turn out good. Big kudos to him for doing this and for writing a romance outside the box.
**I was also really amused that the town this takes place in is called Hixsville**
February 5, 2024
Patrick (Patch) returns home to East Texas upon the death of his parents, with plans to clean out the family home, sell the land for oil exploration, and use the proceeds to fund his dream of opening a NYC nightclub, Velocity. However Patch's boyhood crush Tucker (who fulfilled "So many kinks without breaking a sweat: straight, cowboy, coach, dickhead, daddy") lives in a double-wide on the farm and is the executor of the will, having been promised a life estate by Patch's father, Tucker's long-time friend from back in their rodeo days.
While Patch has flat-out lusted after Tuck for most of his life,
The slow pace of this story drove me crazy, but it's fitting with the laid-back tread of Tucker's life. I like the irony of Lickety Split and a nightclub called Velocity while Patch ever-so-slowly reawakens to the simpler pleasures in East Texas.
And speaking of a slower pace ... there are plenty of edging scenes, along with plenty of J-Lube. These are not the idealized scenes of a fluffy romance. There's lots (and lots and lots) of talk about "sauce" and "juice" and "meat" .... and believe me, we ain't talkin' Texas BBQ.
I really struggled with this review and rating. I can't honestly say that I enjoyed Lickety Split nor especially liked either character, but I appreciate Damon Suede's considerable skill in crafting this story without prettying it up with a lot of conventional M/M plot devices.
I received an ARC from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
While Patch has flat-out lusted after Tuck for most of his life,
The slow pace of this story drove me crazy, but it's fitting with the laid-back tread of Tucker's life. I like the irony of Lickety Split and a nightclub called Velocity while Patch ever-so-slowly reawakens to the simpler pleasures in East Texas.
And speaking of a slower pace ... there are plenty of edging scenes, along with plenty of J-Lube. These are not the idealized scenes of a fluffy romance. There's lots (and lots and lots) of talk about "sauce" and "juice" and "meat" .... and believe me, we ain't talkin' Texas BBQ.
I really struggled with this review and rating. I can't honestly say that I enjoyed Lickety Split nor especially liked either character, but I appreciate Damon Suede's considerable skill in crafting this story without prettying it up with a lot of conventional M/M plot devices.
I received an ARC from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
March 14, 2017
A Damon Suede novel never disappoints, and Licktey Split is a delicious treat not to be missed. It’s a sultry, sexy, slow-burn salted with kink and roasted with decadent indulgence that will curl your toes and rattle your spurs.
March 18, 2017
The story was ok but I didn't like several things:
- The slang was too much at times... to the point that the characters sounded extremely ignorant. I mean, Tucker used to be a coach at the high school... I don't think that anyone in education would sound like him, even in a small town.
- I really never warmed up to Tucker. I thought he was a loser, with his past history of fuck'em and leave'em, with kids spreaded all over the place and him not caring about them, with his attitude of getting off with whoever was handy... and Damon didn't bother to redeem him at all in the book. As if the fact that he was a hot cowboy would make up for all the rest of his (big list of) deficiencies.
- Unprotected sex. Specially due to Tucker's history of fucking everything and anything.
- The book ended with me thinking that Patch could have done so much better than Tuck.
That said, the sex was steamy, raunchy, dirty and kinky.
Overall, a mehh read. I expected much more from the same author of one of my favorite books: Hot-Heads....
- The slang was too much at times... to the point that the characters sounded extremely ignorant. I mean, Tucker used to be a coach at the high school... I don't think that anyone in education would sound like him, even in a small town.
- I really never warmed up to Tucker. I thought he was a loser, with his past history of fuck'em and leave'em, with kids spreaded all over the place and him not caring about them, with his attitude of getting off with whoever was handy... and Damon didn't bother to redeem him at all in the book. As if the fact that he was a hot cowboy would make up for all the rest of his (big list of) deficiencies.
- Unprotected sex. Specially due to Tucker's history of fucking everything and anything.
- The book ended with me thinking that Patch could have done so much better than Tuck.
That said, the sex was steamy, raunchy, dirty and kinky.
Overall, a mehh read. I expected much more from the same author of one of my favorite books: Hot-Heads....
November 16, 2020
What if I told you death can result in love, would you believe me?
What if I told you wild boys and rugged cowboys make the perfect pair, what would you say?
What if I told you Damon will deliver his most vexing yet hottest love tangle to date, would you buy it?
Well, you should.
Patch ran away from home at a tender age and never looked back. Once he had the Texas sun in his rearview mirror, he vowed to keep it there. But then his parents died and he was forced to face the very place he loathed the most. He had to go back…home. He accepted this was merely an inconvenience and flew back on party fumes with implicit plans to make this a quick trip; in and out…lickety split. But then an unwanted surprise spoiled his plans. The cowboy highlighting his dreams and nightmares stands smack dab in the middle of his hasty retreat. His father left his best friend as caretaker of the farm. Was this one last slap in the face? Or the best gift he could ever give him?
What's to like: Despite being born a country boy, Patch is proud to be a city slicker. A few years away and everything seems foreign yet familiar. Though it was a somber return it was critical to revisit memories from years past. Bitter feelings surge from Patch upon seeing Tucker for the first time. I always love it when an unlikable character sheds some of their surly layers. I can almost guarantee you will not be in the Tucker Biggs fan club early on, but then the gruff and tough exterior peels away and you see him. Patch sees him, with fresh eyes. He’s always had a hard on for the sexy cowboy but upon seeing him in all his glory, things soar to a whole new level. Is it possible we can twist our memories? Tunnel vision prevents us from viewing the bigger picture and maybe there is another side to the story. Regardless, this is only a tumble in the hay, they could never…be. They are from different worlds, aren’t they? Guess you’ll just have to find out for yourself. Quick shout out to Janet too, I absolutely adore her and her wisdom!
What's to love: Suede has a rare and remarkable ability to turn a moment into a force. A rope coils into a promise, a sweet cup of coffee brews into a storm of emotions, and a two-step becomes a partnership. The power of the love between these two men is boundless and unrestrained and if you missed it, you weren’t paying attention. I loved how they were reunited, yet meet for the very first time. Tuck may have years and experience on his side and he takes control of satisfying his young buck, but Patch is an equal. I appreciated this aspect of their relationship. Tucker always treats Patch with care and respect. When Patch grabs hold of the reins in the big brass bed, I thought my kindle was going to spontaneously combust. I know it’s the gorgeous setting sun on the cover but it might as well be flames because this was a scorcher.
Sneak peek…one word: edging. Let’s make it two and add J-lube. Aww yeah baby, I’m telling you, it’s on fire. Then they visit NOLA and well, I’m not saying anything else. ‘Cept even though I’ve been to Oz myself, I adored witnessing it through Tucker’s steel eyes. Good times. But the real question is, can it last??
Beware of: Frustrating and confusing as a duck in a tree conversations. The dialogue! Ughhhh….it nearly drove me over the edge of insanity. There were times I didn’t know who was talking to who or what they were talking about. They flipped topics like pancakes at IHOP; following along with their convo’s was extremely maddening. I finally accepted their foreign language and allowed the mystifying exchanges to slide without too much scrutiny. Believe me, it’s better this way.
This book is for: Golly gee, I’d reckon most all folks. If you like ’em in wranglers or decades apart. If you love it when they tremble ‘fore they fall apart. But most all, if Suede is yer favorite, you best git on this one here right quick. Y’all don’t want to miss this cowboy and his pup.
*4.5 stars*
Book UNfunk
What if I told you wild boys and rugged cowboys make the perfect pair, what would you say?
What if I told you Damon will deliver his most vexing yet hottest love tangle to date, would you buy it?
Well, you should.
Patch ran away from home at a tender age and never looked back. Once he had the Texas sun in his rearview mirror, he vowed to keep it there. But then his parents died and he was forced to face the very place he loathed the most. He had to go back…home. He accepted this was merely an inconvenience and flew back on party fumes with implicit plans to make this a quick trip; in and out…lickety split. But then an unwanted surprise spoiled his plans. The cowboy highlighting his dreams and nightmares stands smack dab in the middle of his hasty retreat. His father left his best friend as caretaker of the farm. Was this one last slap in the face? Or the best gift he could ever give him?
What's to like: Despite being born a country boy, Patch is proud to be a city slicker. A few years away and everything seems foreign yet familiar. Though it was a somber return it was critical to revisit memories from years past. Bitter feelings surge from Patch upon seeing Tucker for the first time. I always love it when an unlikable character sheds some of their surly layers. I can almost guarantee you will not be in the Tucker Biggs fan club early on, but then the gruff and tough exterior peels away and you see him. Patch sees him, with fresh eyes. He’s always had a hard on for the sexy cowboy but upon seeing him in all his glory, things soar to a whole new level. Is it possible we can twist our memories? Tunnel vision prevents us from viewing the bigger picture and maybe there is another side to the story. Regardless, this is only a tumble in the hay, they could never…be. They are from different worlds, aren’t they? Guess you’ll just have to find out for yourself. Quick shout out to Janet too, I absolutely adore her and her wisdom!
What's to love: Suede has a rare and remarkable ability to turn a moment into a force. A rope coils into a promise, a sweet cup of coffee brews into a storm of emotions, and a two-step becomes a partnership. The power of the love between these two men is boundless and unrestrained and if you missed it, you weren’t paying attention. I loved how they were reunited, yet meet for the very first time. Tuck may have years and experience on his side and he takes control of satisfying his young buck, but Patch is an equal. I appreciated this aspect of their relationship. Tucker always treats Patch with care and respect. When Patch grabs hold of the reins in the big brass bed, I thought my kindle was going to spontaneously combust. I know it’s the gorgeous setting sun on the cover but it might as well be flames because this was a scorcher.
Sneak peek…one word: edging. Let’s make it two and add J-lube. Aww yeah baby, I’m telling you, it’s on fire. Then they visit NOLA and well, I’m not saying anything else. ‘Cept even though I’ve been to Oz myself, I adored witnessing it through Tucker’s steel eyes. Good times. But the real question is, can it last??
Beware of: Frustrating and confusing as a duck in a tree conversations. The dialogue! Ughhhh….it nearly drove me over the edge of insanity. There were times I didn’t know who was talking to who or what they were talking about. They flipped topics like pancakes at IHOP; following along with their convo’s was extremely maddening. I finally accepted their foreign language and allowed the mystifying exchanges to slide without too much scrutiny. Believe me, it’s better this way.
This book is for: Golly gee, I’d reckon most all folks. If you like ’em in wranglers or decades apart. If you love it when they tremble ‘fore they fall apart. But most all, if Suede is yer favorite, you best git on this one here right quick. Y’all don’t want to miss this cowboy and his pup.
*4.5 stars*
Book UNfunk
March 13, 2017
Oh I was worried. At first I thought, aww man, the age thing is going to bother me. Patch is young and Tucker is not, but a funny thing happened on the way out of the first chapter, I forgot all about that.
Tucker is larger than life but you realize fast that yes, Patch may have seen what he did, but he wasn't old enough to process Tucker's feelings during those acts. So he may have "seen" the man screwing what he thought was everything in sight, but he didn't understand the why.
Patch doesn't know who he is at first. He's young, and in the course of the book, he figures out what he values as opposed to what he loves. And it's not necessary for him to have some tearful reconciliation with the memory of his parents, it's enough for him to embrace their way of life, their home, and what they loved, which was him. He grows and can then learn what all adults do and that's compromise, making allowances for those people and places you love. Bending enough but still retaining your own identity.
Tucker has to learn to love himself and stop thinking that he's not valuable. That's the single greatest lesson for him, that he can no longer give himself away. When Patch values him, we see a change in the cowboy.
And that was why the age thing turned out to be not only a non-issue, but so very necessary. The story doesn't work otherwise. There had to be preconceived ideas on both sides that get broken down over the course of the book.
They communicate first through sex, as many of us do, which leads to nurturing to understanding, moments of true clarity and expansion of what he thinks sex can be for Patch, (slow and hot and even tender at times), and belonging for Tucker. Patch has to literally tie the man up so he gets it, yes, I belong to him, and him to me.
Tucker is larger than life, I want one just like him, and Patch I grew to love for his whole "rage against changing" that which makes him, him.
It's one of those books I'll read again and again and find something new each time. Wildly recommended.
Tucker is larger than life but you realize fast that yes, Patch may have seen what he did, but he wasn't old enough to process Tucker's feelings during those acts. So he may have "seen" the man screwing what he thought was everything in sight, but he didn't understand the why.
Patch doesn't know who he is at first. He's young, and in the course of the book, he figures out what he values as opposed to what he loves. And it's not necessary for him to have some tearful reconciliation with the memory of his parents, it's enough for him to embrace their way of life, their home, and what they loved, which was him. He grows and can then learn what all adults do and that's compromise, making allowances for those people and places you love. Bending enough but still retaining your own identity.
Tucker has to learn to love himself and stop thinking that he's not valuable. That's the single greatest lesson for him, that he can no longer give himself away. When Patch values him, we see a change in the cowboy.
And that was why the age thing turned out to be not only a non-issue, but so very necessary. The story doesn't work otherwise. There had to be preconceived ideas on both sides that get broken down over the course of the book.
They communicate first through sex, as many of us do, which leads to nurturing to understanding, moments of true clarity and expansion of what he thinks sex can be for Patch, (slow and hot and even tender at times), and belonging for Tucker. Patch has to literally tie the man up so he gets it, yes, I belong to him, and him to me.
Tucker is larger than life, I want one just like him, and Patch I grew to love for his whole "rage against changing" that which makes him, him.
It's one of those books I'll read again and again and find something new each time. Wildly recommended.
April 23, 2020
Hole-eeeee shii-iittt! You know when you're expecting a run-of-the-mill 'whatever' book, and then find yourself rode hard and put away wet? Good goddamn!!! It's quite a skill to be able to write such a complicated and in many ways unsavory character (there was a moment early on when we found out Tucker has kids scattered all over, and I flat out did not like that), that I slowly and surely fucken luhhhhvd! I would be VERY interested in listening to the audio version of this. With the right narrator I think I would just
fucken melt.
As it was, just reading that slow Texas drawl... quite the panty-dropper, lemme tell you what.
This book went in so many directions that I did not see coming. I figured I've read (and liked) this book before. He'll go back, and it turns out Tucker was a dick because he had a thing for him, and they'd fall in lurve and blah blah blah. Hell no. Nothin as simple as all that. I loved the theme of memories and real versus fantasy. How we see people and things the way we want to, the way we expect them to be, the way we remember them. But not necessarily the way they really are, or were. Sad, to some extent, but true.
But the slow fucken burn. And the sweet fucken kink. Just the right amount. No cheesy 'Daddy' script. No formal 'scenes.' Just two guys who like to get down in the same beautiful and dirty and marvelous way.
This book was sweet and rough and dirty and real. No bullshit angst or miscommunications, although that certainly don't mean it was easy (and yes, I'm writing in a drawl, I can't not!) I'm honestly kinda in awe. And it was sooooooo fucken HOT! I've been know to get bored and skim a sex scene or twelve, but despite the edging going on for dozens of pages, I could not get enough.
Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, reviewed for Hearts On Fire
Re-Read 4/2020: Hot Fuckin Damn this book tears me up! And makes me wanna move back to Texas 🤣 I remembered it was SMOKING fucking HOT, but I had forgotten how GODDAMN SWEET it is!!!!! Dirty raunchy cum-spattered fluff. And I loved every second.
"Patch had wanted him anyway, the way you do when you're too stubborn to be happy and too attached to steer clear."
This book went in so many directions that I did not see coming. I figured I've read (and liked) this book before. He'll go back, and it turns out Tucker was a dick because he had a thing for him, and they'd fall in lurve and blah blah blah. Hell no. Nothin as simple as all that. I loved the theme of memories and real versus fantasy. How we see people and things the way we want to, the way we expect them to be, the way we remember them. But not necessarily the way they really are, or were. Sad, to some extent, but true.
"Sometimes your knight in shining armor turns out to be a shitkicker in faded jeans."
But the slow fucken burn. And the sweet fucken kink. Just the right amount. No cheesy 'Daddy' script. No formal 'scenes.' Just two guys who like to get down in the same beautiful and dirty and marvelous way.
"The guilty, grasping pleasure felt sweet as found money, like birthday cake for breakfast."
This book was sweet and rough and dirty and real. No bullshit angst or miscommunications, although that certainly don't mean it was easy (and yes, I'm writing in a drawl, I can't not!) I'm honestly kinda in awe. And it was sooooooo fucken HOT! I've been know to get bored and skim a sex scene or twelve, but despite the edging going on for dozens of pages, I could not get enough.
Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, reviewed for Hearts On Fire
Re-Read 4/2020: Hot Fuckin Damn this book tears me up! And makes me wanna move back to Texas 🤣 I remembered it was SMOKING fucking HOT, but I had forgotten how GODDAMN SWEET it is!!!!! Dirty raunchy cum-spattered fluff. And I loved every second.
March 16, 2017
3.5 stars
When we’re first introduced to Patch Hastle, he’s on his way to Hixville, Texas, a town he ran away from when he was sixteen. Patch’s return isn’t happy, as he’s going back for his parents’ funerals and to wrap up business at their ranch.
Anger’s a tangible thing in this book. Patch is angry at the town that almost crushed him, at the parents that couldn’t accept him for who he was, and at himself for never being able to really put it all behind him.
And he’s angry at Tucker Biggs, Patch’s father’s best friend, and the man who Patch has measured every other man against.
Tucker’s a deadbeat cowboy who never strayed too far from the ranch. Or so Patch thought. But once Patch lets his guard down a bit, he realizes that Tucker’s the only one who’s ever seen and accepted all of Patch.
I think it’s worth noting that Tucker isn’t the romanticized version of a cowboy that readers are probably used to in romance books. He’s a real cowboy - rugged, crass, and dusty. Everything that Patch craves.
The sexual chemistry between Tucker and Patch was through the roof. From the moment Patch returns to the ranch, the heat begins building between the two. And when they give in, it’s hot.
The emotional connection between the two is less clear. They have history, but I thought that at times their relationship was reduced to hot sex. Even so, by the end I was convinced they belonged together.
I really liked how Tucker and Patch built each up. Tucker convinces Patch that it’s okay to let go of his anger and grieve, while Patch shows Tucker that he’s more than a country hick.
However, I didn’t like that Tucker’s past was just swept over so easily, especially all of his abandoned kids. I get second chances and all, but I would have liked to see some remorse and amends on Tucker’s part.
Also, I thought Patch’s repetitive inner monologues took up too much page time.
Overall, ‘Lickity Split’ hit a lot of high notes. It’s quite a sexy read, and Patch and Tucker were definitely two halves of a whole. If you’re looking for a slightly angsty read with flawed characters, give this book a try.
When we’re first introduced to Patch Hastle, he’s on his way to Hixville, Texas, a town he ran away from when he was sixteen. Patch’s return isn’t happy, as he’s going back for his parents’ funerals and to wrap up business at their ranch.
Anger’s a tangible thing in this book. Patch is angry at the town that almost crushed him, at the parents that couldn’t accept him for who he was, and at himself for never being able to really put it all behind him.
And he’s angry at Tucker Biggs, Patch’s father’s best friend, and the man who Patch has measured every other man against.
Tucker’s a deadbeat cowboy who never strayed too far from the ranch. Or so Patch thought. But once Patch lets his guard down a bit, he realizes that Tucker’s the only one who’s ever seen and accepted all of Patch.
I think it’s worth noting that Tucker isn’t the romanticized version of a cowboy that readers are probably used to in romance books. He’s a real cowboy - rugged, crass, and dusty. Everything that Patch craves.
The sexual chemistry between Tucker and Patch was through the roof. From the moment Patch returns to the ranch, the heat begins building between the two. And when they give in, it’s hot.
The emotional connection between the two is less clear. They have history, but I thought that at times their relationship was reduced to hot sex. Even so, by the end I was convinced they belonged together.
I really liked how Tucker and Patch built each up. Tucker convinces Patch that it’s okay to let go of his anger and grieve, while Patch shows Tucker that he’s more than a country hick.
However, I didn’t like that Tucker’s past was just swept over so easily, especially all of his abandoned kids. I get second chances and all, but I would have liked to see some remorse and amends on Tucker’s part.
Also, I thought Patch’s repetitive inner monologues took up too much page time.
Overall, ‘Lickity Split’ hit a lot of high notes. It’s quite a sexy read, and Patch and Tucker were definitely two halves of a whole. If you’re looking for a slightly angsty read with flawed characters, give this book a try.
March 15, 2017
I just finished this book and I'm not sure that I understood half of what I read! Much as I'd like to think that I'm not an idiot generally, feels like I'm one right now because I just couldn't follow some (most) of the conversation between Patch and Tucker. It wasn't so much the dialect they used, but the way that their shorthand speech went over my head. For example, the convo at the end of the New Orleans trip - I thought they were saying one thing but it turns out that they thought it was the exact opposite.
Other elements were classic Damon Suede. The men are gritty, using his unique brand of language describing sex and all things relating thereto. It took me by surprise in Hot Head (and I was a little bit grossed out) but I expected it here and it didn't bother me - and it made Hot Head look like a Little Golden Book. There is agonizing about life and his role by one man, complete acceptance (or is it apathy?) by the other. I will say that his characters are genuine - you can't complain about flat perfection in these guys.
Another reviewer said that she wished there was more exploration into the prior behaviors of Patch, his parents and Past Tucker. I agree with that and think maybe I could have followed a little better if I understood what all of that meant. For example, how did Tucker go from seeing Patch as pita kid to what he was now? Why did everyone say how much Patch's parents loved him when he didn't feel that at all. (And how annoying was his dad for how they died?! Stupid man.)
The age gap, experience gap, family friend relationship elements all seemed organic and well-handled.
I loved the ending, felt like peace was achieved by all even if I was left with some questions about how it would actually work.
Interesting book. Not my favorite from this author but glad I read it. I think I'm not the target audience for this book (I'm in no way suggesting that I should be, or trying to appropriate anyone's experience or center this on myself - the opposite). Maybe part of my disconnect with what they were talking about was because it was a deeper dive into self analysis of masculinity and how it developed for Patch and I have no frame of reference for that at all. I'm adding this not as a criticism in any way, but to clarify that my impression might be because of my own limitations rather than the book itself. (Or maybe I am just an idiot :)
Other elements were classic Damon Suede. The men are gritty, using his unique brand of language describing sex and all things relating thereto. It took me by surprise in Hot Head (and I was a little bit grossed out) but I expected it here and it didn't bother me - and it made Hot Head look like a Little Golden Book. There is agonizing about life and his role by one man, complete acceptance (or is it apathy?) by the other. I will say that his characters are genuine - you can't complain about flat perfection in these guys.
Another reviewer said that she wished there was more exploration into the prior behaviors of Patch, his parents and Past Tucker. I agree with that and think maybe I could have followed a little better if I understood what all of that meant. For example, how did Tucker go from seeing Patch as pita kid to what he was now? Why did everyone say how much Patch's parents loved him when he didn't feel that at all. (And how annoying was his dad for how they died?! Stupid man.)
The age gap, experience gap, family friend relationship elements all seemed organic and well-handled.
I loved the ending, felt like peace was achieved by all even if I was left with some questions about how it would actually work.
Interesting book. Not my favorite from this author but glad I read it. I think I'm not the target audience for this book (I'm in no way suggesting that I should be, or trying to appropriate anyone's experience or center this on myself - the opposite). Maybe part of my disconnect with what they were talking about was because it was a deeper dive into self analysis of masculinity and how it developed for Patch and I have no frame of reference for that at all. I'm adding this not as a criticism in any way, but to clarify that my impression might be because of my own limitations rather than the book itself. (Or maybe I am just an idiot :)
March 14, 2017
This was at once an utterly fascinating character study of an old cowboy and a young man who lost his heart to that same cowboy long ago, and an utterly frustrating read at times, what with the slow dance around the truth these two men insist upon, but also utterly satisfying in the end, when they both get that what they want, but don't know how to ask for.
I don't have a lot of exposure to Damon Suede's writing. I read Bad Idea many moons ago, so this one didn't pop my Damon Suede cherry, but still - haven't read much by this author at all.
Still, Bad Idea was impressive, and when this here book came along, I snapped it up. Enemies to Lovers trope set in deep down Texas between a young man who ran away from the homophobia long time ago, and his object of desire/tormenter - hells, yeah, sign me up!
This book has to be read slowly, and savored. There's so much between the lines that it's easy to miss a point or five the author is trying to make if you're rushing through it.
On the surface, Patch (the younger man) and Tucker (the older one) are complete opposites.
Patch is going places, he has plans to take his DJing to the next level by opening a club, he's young and full of come, and hook-ups are all he needs. He doesn't want to go back to Texas and has no desire to revisit his past.
Tucker, on the other hand, is nothing more than a washed-up cowboy-cum-caretaker who looks after the farm Patch's parents own, and who lives in a rundown trailer on property. He thinks his time has passed, and that he has nothing to offer anyone, so he's alone and a bit lonely sometimes too. Except for his dog, he's really go no one to talk to day in and day out.
Yep, on the surface, they're as different as night and day. And there's some bad history there too, with Tucker having tormented Patch during his stint playing high school football, when Patch was just a skinny thing and Tucker his coach.
When Patch's parents die in an accident, all he wants to do is get in town to take care of business and get himself back to NYC, pronto. Except, time slows down in Texas, and so do Patch's plans to sell the farm quickly and leave.
This book is truly a character study. It's fascinating to watch the interactions between Patch and Tucker, and both of them changing before your eyes. Yes, there's sexy times too, and even in those, the fundamental differences between the two men are highlighted. Hot, sweaty nights give way to leisurely hours at the pond, with a bit of edging for pleasure added for good measure. Patch learns to slow down, and Tucker learns that sometimes it's okay to say "I love you" instead of expecting the other person to simply know.
They both learn to communicate, in words and deeds, as the story progresses. Mistakes and misunderstandings notwithstanding, both men, young and old, grow in this book. As Patch cleans out the house where he used to live, he takes stock of his life and also learns that you can take the boy outta Texas, but you can't take Texas outta the boy. And that maybe not all is as it seemed back then.
Slowly, carefully, Damon Suede peels back the layers of his characters, showing his readers time and again that he has mastered his craft, creating and exploring two exquisite and completely oppositional characters with depth and heart and determination. There are moments that are utterly breathtaking, and they sneak up on you so unexpectedly that you can't help but sit there with your gaping maw, wondering what just happened.
Read this, savor this. It's masterfully done.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher. A positive review was not promised in return. **
I don't have a lot of exposure to Damon Suede's writing. I read Bad Idea many moons ago, so this one didn't pop my Damon Suede cherry, but still - haven't read much by this author at all.
Still, Bad Idea was impressive, and when this here book came along, I snapped it up. Enemies to Lovers trope set in deep down Texas between a young man who ran away from the homophobia long time ago, and his object of desire/tormenter - hells, yeah, sign me up!
This book has to be read slowly, and savored. There's so much between the lines that it's easy to miss a point or five the author is trying to make if you're rushing through it.
On the surface, Patch (the younger man) and Tucker (the older one) are complete opposites.
Patch is going places, he has plans to take his DJing to the next level by opening a club, he's young and full of come, and hook-ups are all he needs. He doesn't want to go back to Texas and has no desire to revisit his past.
Tucker, on the other hand, is nothing more than a washed-up cowboy-cum-caretaker who looks after the farm Patch's parents own, and who lives in a rundown trailer on property. He thinks his time has passed, and that he has nothing to offer anyone, so he's alone and a bit lonely sometimes too. Except for his dog, he's really go no one to talk to day in and day out.
Yep, on the surface, they're as different as night and day. And there's some bad history there too, with Tucker having tormented Patch during his stint playing high school football, when Patch was just a skinny thing and Tucker his coach.
When Patch's parents die in an accident, all he wants to do is get in town to take care of business and get himself back to NYC, pronto. Except, time slows down in Texas, and so do Patch's plans to sell the farm quickly and leave.
This book is truly a character study. It's fascinating to watch the interactions between Patch and Tucker, and both of them changing before your eyes. Yes, there's sexy times too, and even in those, the fundamental differences between the two men are highlighted. Hot, sweaty nights give way to leisurely hours at the pond, with a bit of edging for pleasure added for good measure. Patch learns to slow down, and Tucker learns that sometimes it's okay to say "I love you" instead of expecting the other person to simply know.
They both learn to communicate, in words and deeds, as the story progresses. Mistakes and misunderstandings notwithstanding, both men, young and old, grow in this book. As Patch cleans out the house where he used to live, he takes stock of his life and also learns that you can take the boy outta Texas, but you can't take Texas outta the boy. And that maybe not all is as it seemed back then.
Slowly, carefully, Damon Suede peels back the layers of his characters, showing his readers time and again that he has mastered his craft, creating and exploring two exquisite and completely oppositional characters with depth and heart and determination. There are moments that are utterly breathtaking, and they sneak up on you so unexpectedly that you can't help but sit there with your gaping maw, wondering what just happened.
Read this, savor this. It's masterfully done.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher. A positive review was not promised in return. **
Read
April 5, 2017DNF @20%
To me, it was too dirty and not the good kind of dirty.
Unfortunately it felt like the little story in this book was in the background and the main attraction was the porn stuff, which is ok in some rare cases, but I did not connect with both MC's *at all* (one was annoying, the other was creepy and icky)
Again, unfortunately, with this author. Yet, I'm in a minority, so...
To me, it was too dirty and not the good kind of dirty.
Unfortunately it felt like the little story in this book was in the background and the main attraction was the porn stuff, which is ok in some rare cases, but I did not connect with both MC's *at all* (one was annoying, the other was creepy and icky)
Again, unfortunately, with this author. Yet, I'm in a minority, so...
March 13, 2017
4.5 stars – Back when I was in my honeymoon period of reading M/M romance, I read Damon Suede’s Hot Head, a book that is still one of the most memorable I’ve read in the genre. For some reason, in the sixteen months since then, I’ve not picked up another of his books—perhaps it’s because I’m still waiting for Tommy’s story, but that’s neither here nor there. Anyway, the appearance of Lickety Split on my reading list was quite welcome, and after reading it, I once again have to ask myself why I haven’t read more of his books.
Patch Hastle escaped his boring, small-town life when he left home at sixteen. Now in his early twenties, he’s made a name for himself as a New York-based model and high-energy deejay for the hottest clubs and circuit parties in the world. The death of his parents should have been only a small bump in the road, something that should have amounted to selling off the family farm and being on his way back to the fast life. One of the other things he escaped all those years ago was his father’s best friend, Tucker Biggs, a man who at every turn, not unlike Patch’s father, made Patch’s life hell. But it looks like his father has taken one last chance to make Patch miserable by naming Tucker as the executor of the will. And it doesn’t help any that the minute Patch sees Tucker, he’s reminded of all the other reasons being around Tucker was tortuous for him back when he was a horny teenager.
The story is told entirely from Patch’s point of view (POV), and though it is not at all related to the other book, fans of Hot Head will instantly recognize some things that mark the storytelling in Lickety Split as being that of Damon Suede, namely the quick here’s-what-Patch-is-thinking witticisms to solidify the descriptions the author uses throughout the story. In this case, the story taking place in very rural southeastern Texas means a lot of it is the regional dialect. Since I’ve lived not far from there for the past two-and-a-half years, I caught enough for it to feel authentic to me without it seeming like the author was making fun of people who live there.
I love romantic pairings that start as adversarial, especially those where one of the characters doesn’t necessarily realize just how bad the other thinks he was treated in the past. That’s the case with Tucker, so much of their unwitting reunion becomes a conflicting contrast between how Patch feels about his past life and how Tucker represents Patch’s parents’ feelings, not to mention his own. The fact that Tucker is still the same masculine daddy-figure hunk Patch has always held as an object of his dirtiest fantasies, even more so now with a few more years added, doesn’t help clarify matters for Patch at all. The difference now is that Tucker can finally see Patch as a man instead of the boy he used to be, something that quickly becomes evident when they start fooling around.
The sexual progression in this story follows an unusual path—I’m not going to say more because I want you to experience it for yourself—but I have to admit that in many ways, it pushes good buttons that a lot of authors that I’ve read haven’t touched. There is a bit of kink here in the form of bondage and edging, as well as playing off the age difference between the characters. Whether or not the level of bondage is something that does it for you (I have to admit, it was a little beyond my comfort zone), the resulting sex is still blazing hot and intensely intimate.
But the romance aspect is also readily evident as the story progresses, and it hit me in an unexpected way that few other M/M romances have. There’s a point in the book where I admit to thinking that it was going to be a sex-heavy story when the scene suddenly turns into a beautifully simple and lovely romantic moment that brought a tear to my eye, and it fits in so well with the overall background theme that repeats itself from start to finish in the story. Call me a sap, or maybe it’s because I’m a forty-something gay man who, back when I was twenty-two, could never have done something as simple as dancing the two-step on the porch in the arms of the man I realize I’m in love with, but yeah, romantic as fuck.
Probably the only complaint I have about the book comes during their inevitable break-off scene. From the start, Patch intends only to stay long enough to pack up and sell the estate before going back to the city. There were times earlier in the novel where I found it a little challenging to understand exactly where Tucker was in the developing relationship. This isn’t a bad thing, because the story is from Patch’s POV so it makes Patch’s confusion more realistic. But when it came time for the “fight,” I’m not sure if it was the language used or what, but I had difficulty following the logic the men were using to explain themselves, so I wasn’t entirely sure what had happened until they walked away from each other. Regardless, this confusion was short lived as the pain of separation and joy of reunion quickly took its place. And it tugged at my heart a good bit, and yeah, more tears.
One of the things I use to determine just how much I enjoy a book is by how much I think about it after finishing it. Lickety Split went a step further than most, though, in that I’ve found myself pondering the potential virtue in my own life of slowing down to move forward instead of rushing to stay in place. So with that, I loved this book. That’s all there is to say.
The author and/or publisher generously provided me a complimentary copy of Lickety Split in exchange for this fair and honest review.
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Patch Hastle escaped his boring, small-town life when he left home at sixteen. Now in his early twenties, he’s made a name for himself as a New York-based model and high-energy deejay for the hottest clubs and circuit parties in the world. The death of his parents should have been only a small bump in the road, something that should have amounted to selling off the family farm and being on his way back to the fast life. One of the other things he escaped all those years ago was his father’s best friend, Tucker Biggs, a man who at every turn, not unlike Patch’s father, made Patch’s life hell. But it looks like his father has taken one last chance to make Patch miserable by naming Tucker as the executor of the will. And it doesn’t help any that the minute Patch sees Tucker, he’s reminded of all the other reasons being around Tucker was tortuous for him back when he was a horny teenager.
The story is told entirely from Patch’s point of view (POV), and though it is not at all related to the other book, fans of Hot Head will instantly recognize some things that mark the storytelling in Lickety Split as being that of Damon Suede, namely the quick here’s-what-Patch-is-thinking witticisms to solidify the descriptions the author uses throughout the story. In this case, the story taking place in very rural southeastern Texas means a lot of it is the regional dialect. Since I’ve lived not far from there for the past two-and-a-half years, I caught enough for it to feel authentic to me without it seeming like the author was making fun of people who live there.
I love romantic pairings that start as adversarial, especially those where one of the characters doesn’t necessarily realize just how bad the other thinks he was treated in the past. That’s the case with Tucker, so much of their unwitting reunion becomes a conflicting contrast between how Patch feels about his past life and how Tucker represents Patch’s parents’ feelings, not to mention his own. The fact that Tucker is still the same masculine daddy-figure hunk Patch has always held as an object of his dirtiest fantasies, even more so now with a few more years added, doesn’t help clarify matters for Patch at all. The difference now is that Tucker can finally see Patch as a man instead of the boy he used to be, something that quickly becomes evident when they start fooling around.
The sexual progression in this story follows an unusual path—I’m not going to say more because I want you to experience it for yourself—but I have to admit that in many ways, it pushes good buttons that a lot of authors that I’ve read haven’t touched. There is a bit of kink here in the form of bondage and edging, as well as playing off the age difference between the characters. Whether or not the level of bondage is something that does it for you (I have to admit, it was a little beyond my comfort zone), the resulting sex is still blazing hot and intensely intimate.
But the romance aspect is also readily evident as the story progresses, and it hit me in an unexpected way that few other M/M romances have. There’s a point in the book where I admit to thinking that it was going to be a sex-heavy story when the scene suddenly turns into a beautifully simple and lovely romantic moment that brought a tear to my eye, and it fits in so well with the overall background theme that repeats itself from start to finish in the story. Call me a sap, or maybe it’s because I’m a forty-something gay man who, back when I was twenty-two, could never have done something as simple as dancing the two-step on the porch in the arms of the man I realize I’m in love with, but yeah, romantic as fuck.
Probably the only complaint I have about the book comes during their inevitable break-off scene. From the start, Patch intends only to stay long enough to pack up and sell the estate before going back to the city. There were times earlier in the novel where I found it a little challenging to understand exactly where Tucker was in the developing relationship. This isn’t a bad thing, because the story is from Patch’s POV so it makes Patch’s confusion more realistic. But when it came time for the “fight,” I’m not sure if it was the language used or what, but I had difficulty following the logic the men were using to explain themselves, so I wasn’t entirely sure what had happened until they walked away from each other. Regardless, this confusion was short lived as the pain of separation and joy of reunion quickly took its place. And it tugged at my heart a good bit, and yeah, more tears.
One of the things I use to determine just how much I enjoy a book is by how much I think about it after finishing it. Lickety Split went a step further than most, though, in that I’ve found myself pondering the potential virtue in my own life of slowing down to move forward instead of rushing to stay in place. So with that, I loved this book. That’s all there is to say.
The author and/or publisher generously provided me a complimentary copy of Lickety Split in exchange for this fair and honest review.
Follow Me: Reviews by Tammy & Kim | Facebook | Twitter
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March 15, 2017I have to dnf this one - the sex scenes are grossing me out. When the term "juicy snout" is used (and that is one of MANY phrases that were ridic) I can't go on. I just can't.
I like that age difference and maybe I would end up liking the two of them together but the wording in the sex scenes turns me off so much.
DNF.
I like that age difference and maybe I would end up liking the two of them together but the wording in the sex scenes turns me off so much.
DNF.
August 20, 2018
5 stelline e pure una in più. Bentornato Damon!!!!!!
Aveva sempre sospettato che il cielo in Texas sembrasse più grande perché la terra era rigonfia. Stiamo su una cazzo di fibbia, stiamo.
L’orizzonte splendeva come una pesca ammaccata, di viola e d’arancio. Patch sapeva che era l’inquinamento dell’aria il responsabile di quei tramonti e quelle albe spettacolari, ma Cristo santo quant’erano belle.
Sarà perché, come molti lettori italiani, ho un debito di riconoscenza verso "Testa calda", il mio primo vero colpo di fulmine per il genere MM, ma aspettavo da tempo un nuovo libro di Suede (almeno uno che arrivasse in Italia).
Devo dire che mi è piaciuto moltissimo, sin dall'ambientazione.
Suede è riuscito a ricreare benissimo un Texas pieno d'afa e di polvere, tanto che ti sembra di sentire sulla pelle la stessa umidità appiccicosa che opprime Patch e i suoi sentimenti.
E' una storia di ritorni, quella che ci viene raccontata.
Non proprio il figliol prodigo, perché ormai non c'è più nessuna famiglia ad aspettarlo, ma il ritorno di un ragazzino che era troppo bello e troppo fragile per crescere tra fattorie, solitudini e pozzi di petrolio e che era stato costretto a fuggire per avere una possibilità.
Eppure, dopo aver girato il mondo, dopo aver conosciuto persone, Hixville, con le sue 1537 anime, è ancora il Luogo da cui tanto è cominciato, il Luogo più odiato, il Luogo che respinge e attrae.
A Hixville (non proprio dentro casa, ma quasi...) c'è pure Tucker, il primo nemico della sua vita, il suo oppressore, il suo primo oggetto del desiderio. Tucker, con la sua vita alla deriva, il fisico dell'uomo maturo, la parlata strascicata e la sicura indolenza di chi ha sempre saputo, è la vera nemesi di Patch.
L'unico motivo per cui scappare di nuovo o fuggire per sempre.
Di certo, non è una storia d'amore facile.
Non è subito il sereno dopo tanta tempesta.
Tucker è quasi odioso, respingente all'inizio. Seduce Patch senza fare nulla, pur senza mai ammettere i suoi desideri. In questo rimane un texano vecchio stampo, uno che fa ma non ammette ad alta voce, uno che arriva lento sulle cose, che si prende tutto il tempo (anche nel sesso), mentre Patch è nervosismo, agitazione, uno spirito scattoso che vorrebbe solo prendere o scappare.
Ma, nella loro reciproca solitudine, anche Patch e Tucker riusciranno in qualche modo a capirsi, a vedere che ciascuno desiderava la stessa cosa, seppure da un'angolazione diversa.
Ci sono alcune scene di sesso e si sente che sono scritte da un maschio (forse perché c'è meno romance e più schiettezza carnale), ma io le ho trovate giuste per l'ambientazione, così come ho compreso perchè ci fosse bisogno di una corda per ritrovare la sincronia tra due tempi vitali troppo distanti.
Anche in questo Damon è stato superbo.
Infine, una nota sulla traduzione, davvero ben riuscita. A parte gli squarci di bellezza resi altrettanto poetici in italiano, ho trovato azzeccato anche il modo di rendere diversa la parlata di Tucker, trasformandolo in un personaggio ancor più lontano e stridente rispetto al dolce e arrabbiato Patch.
Per me: DA LEGGERE.
Patch rimase immobile. S’irrigidì e schiuse la bocca, si schiuse tutto quanto, ed entrambi s’arresero, s’arresero. Il bacio affamato era come un rosaio che gli fioriva lungo il corpo, nella carne, andava ad arricciarsi intorno alla testiera d’ottone, li avvolgeva, bruciava come una lucciola, più dolce, più forte e più pungente di qualsiasi cosa avesse mai provato. Non servivano nodi.
Aveva sempre sospettato che il cielo in Texas sembrasse più grande perché la terra era rigonfia. Stiamo su una cazzo di fibbia, stiamo.
L’orizzonte splendeva come una pesca ammaccata, di viola e d’arancio. Patch sapeva che era l’inquinamento dell’aria il responsabile di quei tramonti e quelle albe spettacolari, ma Cristo santo quant’erano belle.
Sarà perché, come molti lettori italiani, ho un debito di riconoscenza verso "Testa calda", il mio primo vero colpo di fulmine per il genere MM, ma aspettavo da tempo un nuovo libro di Suede (almeno uno che arrivasse in Italia).
Devo dire che mi è piaciuto moltissimo, sin dall'ambientazione.
Suede è riuscito a ricreare benissimo un Texas pieno d'afa e di polvere, tanto che ti sembra di sentire sulla pelle la stessa umidità appiccicosa che opprime Patch e i suoi sentimenti.
E' una storia di ritorni, quella che ci viene raccontata.
Non proprio il figliol prodigo, perché ormai non c'è più nessuna famiglia ad aspettarlo, ma il ritorno di un ragazzino che era troppo bello e troppo fragile per crescere tra fattorie, solitudini e pozzi di petrolio e che era stato costretto a fuggire per avere una possibilità.
Eppure, dopo aver girato il mondo, dopo aver conosciuto persone, Hixville, con le sue 1537 anime, è ancora il Luogo da cui tanto è cominciato, il Luogo più odiato, il Luogo che respinge e attrae.
A Hixville (non proprio dentro casa, ma quasi...) c'è pure Tucker, il primo nemico della sua vita, il suo oppressore, il suo primo oggetto del desiderio. Tucker, con la sua vita alla deriva, il fisico dell'uomo maturo, la parlata strascicata e la sicura indolenza di chi ha sempre saputo, è la vera nemesi di Patch.
L'unico motivo per cui scappare di nuovo o fuggire per sempre.
Di certo, non è una storia d'amore facile.
Non è subito il sereno dopo tanta tempesta.
Tucker è quasi odioso, respingente all'inizio. Seduce Patch senza fare nulla, pur senza mai ammettere i suoi desideri. In questo rimane un texano vecchio stampo, uno che fa ma non ammette ad alta voce, uno che arriva lento sulle cose, che si prende tutto il tempo (anche nel sesso), mentre Patch è nervosismo, agitazione, uno spirito scattoso che vorrebbe solo prendere o scappare.
Ma, nella loro reciproca solitudine, anche Patch e Tucker riusciranno in qualche modo a capirsi, a vedere che ciascuno desiderava la stessa cosa, seppure da un'angolazione diversa.
Ci sono alcune scene di sesso e si sente che sono scritte da un maschio (forse perché c'è meno romance e più schiettezza carnale), ma io le ho trovate giuste per l'ambientazione, così come ho compreso perchè ci fosse bisogno di una corda per ritrovare la sincronia tra due tempi vitali troppo distanti.
Anche in questo Damon è stato superbo.
Infine, una nota sulla traduzione, davvero ben riuscita. A parte gli squarci di bellezza resi altrettanto poetici in italiano, ho trovato azzeccato anche il modo di rendere diversa la parlata di Tucker, trasformandolo in un personaggio ancor più lontano e stridente rispetto al dolce e arrabbiato Patch.
Per me: DA LEGGERE.
Patch rimase immobile. S’irrigidì e schiuse la bocca, si schiuse tutto quanto, ed entrambi s’arresero, s’arresero. Il bacio affamato era come un rosaio che gli fioriva lungo il corpo, nella carne, andava ad arricciarsi intorno alla testiera d’ottone, li avvolgeva, bruciava come una lucciola, più dolce, più forte e più pungente di qualsiasi cosa avesse mai provato. Non servivano nodi.
March 17, 2017
4.5 stars
So this ended up being an awesome read, ultimately.
It was more toward 3.5-4.0 stars at the beginning for me because it was slow going, and I was waiting for it to pick up for awhile. Patch was interesting and engaging, but it felt like his and Tucker's relationship took awhile to get going, and to heat up, so that's why I was wavering a little at first. But then around the 30% mark or so, it really started to pick and and I started really get into it. Probably right around when Patch .
From then on I was into this story. Patch starts out the story hating Tucker, as he had when he was a teenager, but still lusting for him as he had as a teenager. Because Patch was expecting the worst out of Tucker, I was pleasantly surprised when he wasn't the worst, and was actually a really sweet, simple guy. And I don't mean simple in a bad way, I just mean that he was content with a pretty simply life - and there's nothing wrong with that. Some people prefer that to a "fast-paced" life like Patch thought he preferred.
Two little niggles for me were that Tucker constantly called Patch "pup" and that term used for a person just personally annoys me, so I got tired of it fairly quickly. Also whenever Tucker - and then eventually Patch in some instances as well - said "sure" it would have "shore" in italics right after - because in their southern accents, especially Tucker's heavy accent, that's what the word sounds like. But after the first times this showed up, that got annoying. I dunno why it had to be there after every time Tucker said "sure." Eh, it's a little thing and not that big a deal, but it niggled.
Moving on, I loved the romance between these two, and how opposite they seemed, but how good they were together. How they made each other laugh, made each other happy. Damon Suede continued his type of style where it never refers to penises as penises or cocks or dicks, but like..."poles" and his "meat" and such. I don't mind that, but it felt very familiar, like ahhh yes, I know what to expect with this author when it comes to writing sex scenes lol. Doesn't mean it wasn't hot, I just knew what to expect with the style of writing in the sex scenes - like the phrases "milking your pole good" or something like that. But the sex between Tucker and Patch is very different from Griff and Dante (and hey, nice shoutout to the that book in this one, that made me smile ;)) but equally as engaging. Like DAMN, Tucker and Patch were HOT together. Their chemistry was a big YES for me ;D.
The book had a few good side characters too, but I was also happy it didn't linger too long on them, because I came here for the two MC's haha. But the side characters that were included were well written and fleshed out.
The dialect was written well - I assume, I'm not from the south so I'm not an expert on southern dialect- and I felt the realism with how the dialogue was written (doesn't mean I need the 'shore' all the time lol).
Overall I loved this, aside from the few niggles, because It was well written and engaging and entertaining. Last night when it was like 2:30 at night or whatever, I had to put it down but I REALLY didn't want to. When a book does that to me, when it is hard to put down, it really is one I love. Definitely recommend this one - and if you're familiar with Suede, you'll be fine with the phrases he uses for sex organs and such (lol) but if not, just beware (because I do remember when I read Hot Head how jarring at first it was to not read "cock" or "dick" when it was talking about their penises lol).
So yeah, definitely give this a try, and if the beginning seems slow, like it did for me, just keep going with it, because it does pick up and it is SO worth it :D.
So this ended up being an awesome read, ultimately.
It was more toward 3.5-4.0 stars at the beginning for me because it was slow going, and I was waiting for it to pick up for awhile. Patch was interesting and engaging, but it felt like his and Tucker's relationship took awhile to get going, and to heat up, so that's why I was wavering a little at first. But then around the 30% mark or so, it really started to pick and and I started really get into it. Probably right around when Patch .
From then on I was into this story. Patch starts out the story hating Tucker, as he had when he was a teenager, but still lusting for him as he had as a teenager. Because Patch was expecting the worst out of Tucker, I was pleasantly surprised when he wasn't the worst, and was actually a really sweet, simple guy. And I don't mean simple in a bad way, I just mean that he was content with a pretty simply life - and there's nothing wrong with that. Some people prefer that to a "fast-paced" life like Patch thought he preferred.
Two little niggles for me were that Tucker constantly called Patch "pup" and that term used for a person just personally annoys me, so I got tired of it fairly quickly. Also whenever Tucker - and then eventually Patch in some instances as well - said "sure" it would have "shore" in italics right after - because in their southern accents, especially Tucker's heavy accent, that's what the word sounds like. But after the first times this showed up, that got annoying. I dunno why it had to be there after every time Tucker said "sure." Eh, it's a little thing and not that big a deal, but it niggled.
Moving on, I loved the romance between these two, and how opposite they seemed, but how good they were together. How they made each other laugh, made each other happy. Damon Suede continued his type of style where it never refers to penises as penises or cocks or dicks, but like..."poles" and his "meat" and such. I don't mind that, but it felt very familiar, like ahhh yes, I know what to expect with this author when it comes to writing sex scenes lol. Doesn't mean it wasn't hot, I just knew what to expect with the style of writing in the sex scenes - like the phrases "milking your pole good" or something like that. But the sex between Tucker and Patch is very different from Griff and Dante (and hey, nice shoutout to the that book in this one, that made me smile ;)) but equally as engaging. Like DAMN, Tucker and Patch were HOT together. Their chemistry was a big YES for me ;D.
The book had a few good side characters too, but I was also happy it didn't linger too long on them, because I came here for the two MC's haha. But the side characters that were included were well written and fleshed out.
The dialect was written well - I assume, I'm not from the south so I'm not an expert on southern dialect- and I felt the realism with how the dialogue was written (doesn't mean I need the 'shore' all the time lol).
Overall I loved this, aside from the few niggles, because It was well written and engaging and entertaining. Last night when it was like 2:30 at night or whatever, I had to put it down but I REALLY didn't want to. When a book does that to me, when it is hard to put down, it really is one I love. Definitely recommend this one - and if you're familiar with Suede, you'll be fine with the phrases he uses for sex organs and such (lol) but if not, just beware (because I do remember when I read Hot Head how jarring at first it was to not read "cock" or "dick" when it was talking about their penises lol).
So yeah, definitely give this a try, and if the beginning seems slow, like it did for me, just keep going with it, because it does pick up and it is SO worth it :D.
March 17, 2017
Well, this is a disappointing case of “everybody else loved it”. I wanted to love this story. I really truly did, after all, it's Damon Suede! The story also had all the elements that really turn my crank: taboo crush, older- younger pairing and cowboys? Oh Yes! Right up this girl’s alley. So what happened? How could this fall so flat? Miss the mark entirely? Why did this have to happen to me ( because yeah, everything’s about me didn’t you know? :P)
Several things irked me about Patch and Tucker.
The first thing that bothered me was how could Patch, get it so wrong about his parents and how much they loved him? Kids can tell when adults don’t like them…it’s practically instinctual. When kids hit rebellious teenage years, there’s lots of angst, lots of life changing things but when teens become young adults/ adults and experience a bit of life they gain perspective and can look back at things through an adult lens, not the childish knee jerk reaction of self- pity or an irrational belief that his parents didn’t love him but there’s nothing concrete that proved Patch was right to think that way.
Then There’s Tucker. Truth be told, I love Tucker! I love the picture on the cover of this book and I wanted to hear that cowboy’s story. Sadly, handsome he may be but storybook Tucker and cover boy Tucker look nothing alike which was disappointing. That was the first disappointment. The second disappointment was in Tucker himself. I can understand coming from nothing and having a hard life but I don’t understand how clueless he was in regards to his friends, Patch’s feelings towards him and his role in making Patch’s teenage years a painful experience. There's simply no way he's that oblivious!
Patrick AKA Patch. I admire Patch. I liked that he took the steps to escape his small town and to make something of himself. He made a life for himself and explored the world as a DeeJay, Underwear model etc. Love that about him but that’s where it ends for me. Patch’s repetitive whining and hankering over Tucker became annoying after awhile. As a matter of fact, this story could have been summarized in 200 pages ( not the hefty 668 page count on my iPad). Both these guys were so one dimensional and flat…truth be told, I kept reading hoping that at least one of them would experience an epiphany or something.
This story was a slow go for me. Some parts were beautifully written and fun to read ( especially, Patch and Tucker’s adventure in New Orleans) but the vast majority was a miss for me, which is sad. To be fair I had the flu while reading this so maybe it is just me. Like I said, everybody else loved it. Perhaps you will too :)
*ARC provided for review at my discretion*
April 7, 2017
Ugh, Damon. Didn't anyone tell you that it all gets increasingly harder when it comes to cowboys? Ever?
From my own personal experience, characters usually tend to slip through our fingers when we build a story around them. It's just what they do, as if they wanted to exist outside of our mind and be complete separate entities from us. It's kind of the same process of differentiation children have from their parents. And some even have the courage to say it must be easy being a writer! Oh, writers have balls. Especially women. Ironic, right?
Back to the point. Cowboys, Damon? Cowboys? You can't tame a cowboy. He's the one that tames you. It's that simple.
I wanted a story. I wanted a cowboy with his own story inside a bigger story. All I got were hormones at two in the morning. My hand settles for much less, really. I still can't say that much for my heart.
2 stars.
From my own personal experience, characters usually tend to slip through our fingers when we build a story around them. It's just what they do, as if they wanted to exist outside of our mind and be complete separate entities from us. It's kind of the same process of differentiation children have from their parents. And some even have the courage to say it must be easy being a writer! Oh, writers have balls. Especially women. Ironic, right?
Back to the point. Cowboys, Damon? Cowboys? You can't tame a cowboy. He's the one that tames you. It's that simple.
I wanted a story. I wanted a cowboy with his own story inside a bigger story. All I got were hormones at two in the morning. My hand settles for much less, really. I still can't say that much for my heart.
2 stars.
March 10, 2017
Review coming soon.
March 31, 2017
3.5 stars
I usually enjoy the extreme manliness emanating from the pages of Damon Seude's books. They're often a very welcome and more real feeling change from much of the usual m/m fare, and this one is no different. It's got all this Southern maleness veritably oozing from between each word, making Tucker and Patch feel like so much kinky prime beef for your delectation.
I used to not mind Suede's idiosyncratic way of spelling out all his character's sound effects, as well as all of their verbal tics, but I started to change my mind on that while reading this book. In "Lickety Split" I felt a disconnect from his characters because of the way the author writes. All that grunting and groaning started to get on my nerves after awhile. Also, to be quite honest, I often had no damned idea what the hell Tucker was saying half the time, what with him speaking primarily in Southern aphorisms that I've never heard before in life. I got the gist of his statements but was never fully able to parse his way of speaking.
Besides all that, though, this book was a pleasure to read. I even found myself literally clapping when
There's more to that scene, but suffice it to say that I was excited and pleased to see someone confront someone else about race in a romance or M/M romance novel, especially since that is VERY rarely done or, if it is, it's often done shittily or half assedly. Patch even has a black friend and comes into contact with people of other (not ambiguous at all) races. What??!
What a pleasant surprise.
So yeah, stars taken off for the overabundance of written out sound effects and for one character speaking in all down home Southern proverbs; 3.5 stars for what seems like a more realistic depiction of country as hell, kinky as hell gay male life and times.
I usually enjoy the extreme manliness emanating from the pages of Damon Seude's books. They're often a very welcome and more real feeling change from much of the usual m/m fare, and this one is no different. It's got all this Southern maleness veritably oozing from between each word, making Tucker and Patch feel like so much kinky prime beef for your delectation.
I used to not mind Suede's idiosyncratic way of spelling out all his character's sound effects, as well as all of their verbal tics, but I started to change my mind on that while reading this book. In "Lickety Split" I felt a disconnect from his characters because of the way the author writes. All that grunting and groaning started to get on my nerves after awhile. Also, to be quite honest, I often had no damned idea what the hell Tucker was saying half the time, what with him speaking primarily in Southern aphorisms that I've never heard before in life. I got the gist of his statements but was never fully able to parse his way of speaking.
Besides all that, though, this book was a pleasure to read. I even found myself literally clapping when
There's more to that scene, but suffice it to say that I was excited and pleased to see someone confront someone else about race in a romance or M/M romance novel, especially since that is VERY rarely done or, if it is, it's often done shittily or half assedly. Patch even has a black friend and comes into contact with people of other (not ambiguous at all) races. What??!
What a pleasant surprise.
So yeah, stars taken off for the overabundance of written out sound effects and for one character speaking in all down home Southern proverbs; 3.5 stars for what seems like a more realistic depiction of country as hell, kinky as hell gay male life and times.
March 13, 2017
I got this book as an ARC from the author with a promise to review. I was really excited to read this book. Let me tell you, it hit all my expectations.
We follow Patch as he goes back home to Hixville to bury his estranged parents. Living in NYC for the last seven years, after leaving home on not such good terms, Patch wants to take care of business and then leave. Unbeknownst to him, things are about to get a little sticky when Tucker, his dad’s best friend and Patch’s nemesis and childhood crush, starts to make him think he wants to stay.
There are so many elements to this story, I really don’t know where to start. First let me talk about the age difference; it’s really a non-issue. Patch is definitely Tucker’s equal. Moving away at such a young age, to the big city, made Patch grow up in a hurry. Tucker isn’t a favorite going into the story. He’s kind of a sad figure who’s got a reputation for being a womanizer. He’s content in life and makes no excuses for himself. As I got to know his character, I saw his kindness and gentle nature. He was my favorite by the time I finished.
Patch is a little more complex; for one, he’s got a huge chip on his shoulder. He was also judgmental, whiny and just acting like a spoiled brat. As the story unfolds we start seeing another side to Patch. We see his confusion and loneliness, and the perception of his childhood is blown out of the water. This would have to be my favorite part, seeing Patch rediscover himself, grow, be accepting and show forgiveness. He was a totally different person by the end of the story. It just made me smile.
Now, as we’re reading, the author uses dialog and country slang that really makes the story feel genuine. Sometimes it was hard to read, but I got used to it real fast. I loved it.
What’s romance without the sexy parts? Well, let me tell you—barns and rope. I’ll let your imagination figure out the rest. Damon Suede can knock it out of the park. Sensual, spicy hot sex. And that slow southern drawl, HAWT!!!!
I really liked how the author played these characters out. It wasn’t slow; it wasn’t fast and furious; it was real time. I loved watching Patch process his feelings, working through his self-doubt, seeing him mature right before our very eyes. Tucker’s patience and perseverance was a sight to behold. This is without a doubt a true love story.
The writing, the emotions, the storyline, I loved it all. Heartwarming moments and regretful realizations make this story memorable. The choices we have, the opportunities we’re given, and the decisions we make are all our own. And the sex, don’t forget about the sex!!
I encourage everyone to read this one.
Reviewed by Lynn for The Novel Approach Reviews
We follow Patch as he goes back home to Hixville to bury his estranged parents. Living in NYC for the last seven years, after leaving home on not such good terms, Patch wants to take care of business and then leave. Unbeknownst to him, things are about to get a little sticky when Tucker, his dad’s best friend and Patch’s nemesis and childhood crush, starts to make him think he wants to stay.
There are so many elements to this story, I really don’t know where to start. First let me talk about the age difference; it’s really a non-issue. Patch is definitely Tucker’s equal. Moving away at such a young age, to the big city, made Patch grow up in a hurry. Tucker isn’t a favorite going into the story. He’s kind of a sad figure who’s got a reputation for being a womanizer. He’s content in life and makes no excuses for himself. As I got to know his character, I saw his kindness and gentle nature. He was my favorite by the time I finished.
Patch is a little more complex; for one, he’s got a huge chip on his shoulder. He was also judgmental, whiny and just acting like a spoiled brat. As the story unfolds we start seeing another side to Patch. We see his confusion and loneliness, and the perception of his childhood is blown out of the water. This would have to be my favorite part, seeing Patch rediscover himself, grow, be accepting and show forgiveness. He was a totally different person by the end of the story. It just made me smile.
Now, as we’re reading, the author uses dialog and country slang that really makes the story feel genuine. Sometimes it was hard to read, but I got used to it real fast. I loved it.
What’s romance without the sexy parts? Well, let me tell you—barns and rope. I’ll let your imagination figure out the rest. Damon Suede can knock it out of the park. Sensual, spicy hot sex. And that slow southern drawl, HAWT!!!!
I really liked how the author played these characters out. It wasn’t slow; it wasn’t fast and furious; it was real time. I loved watching Patch process his feelings, working through his self-doubt, seeing him mature right before our very eyes. Tucker’s patience and perseverance was a sight to behold. This is without a doubt a true love story.
The writing, the emotions, the storyline, I loved it all. Heartwarming moments and regretful realizations make this story memorable. The choices we have, the opportunities we’re given, and the decisions we make are all our own. And the sex, don’t forget about the sex!!
I encourage everyone to read this one.
Reviewed by Lynn for The Novel Approach Reviews
May 4, 2021
3.5 stars
I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about this one. I have a feeling this is one of those books that would work better for me on a re-read, I didn’t love it and didn’t hate it, I just struggled a bit through it. Age gap, opposites attract and a bit of kink should be an easy win in my book, plus it’s Damon Suede. I admit I had a lot of trouble with the dialect and when Tucker was talking to Patch I often really wasn’t sure what he was saying. I also had trouble with Tucker’s attitude overall, but by the end of the story I was invested in their happiness.
There is a lot happening in this story, but I felt like Patch dealing with the past was a bit unfinished. How is he the only one with such a different POV on how his parents viewed him? I know as a child your view is skewed, but could things have been that uneven? Did his father put on an act for others but treat him as a huge disappointment at home? The way Tucker treated him in the past was addressed and I understood what happened, but I felt a bit lost as to what actually happened to make Patch run away from home when he did.
The sex scenes, particularly the edging scenes were intense. They aren’t fluffy and tender, but they are hot. I did feel their emotional connection, though it took a while to get there and I liked the juxtaposition of Tucker’s slower life with Patch’s non-stop moving and them working to find a compromise. Then ending felt HFN as they have a plan, but I’d kind of like to see just how it works out.
I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about this one. I have a feeling this is one of those books that would work better for me on a re-read, I didn’t love it and didn’t hate it, I just struggled a bit through it. Age gap, opposites attract and a bit of kink should be an easy win in my book, plus it’s Damon Suede. I admit I had a lot of trouble with the dialect and when Tucker was talking to Patch I often really wasn’t sure what he was saying. I also had trouble with Tucker’s attitude overall, but by the end of the story I was invested in their happiness.
There is a lot happening in this story, but I felt like Patch dealing with the past was a bit unfinished. How is he the only one with such a different POV on how his parents viewed him? I know as a child your view is skewed, but could things have been that uneven? Did his father put on an act for others but treat him as a huge disappointment at home? The way Tucker treated him in the past was addressed and I understood what happened, but I felt a bit lost as to what actually happened to make Patch run away from home when he did.
The sex scenes, particularly the edging scenes were intense. They aren’t fluffy and tender, but they are hot. I did feel their emotional connection, though it took a while to get there and I liked the juxtaposition of Tucker’s slower life with Patch’s non-stop moving and them working to find a compromise. Then ending felt HFN as they have a plan, but I’d kind of like to see just how it works out.
September 3, 2017
*** DNF I tried, I really did. All week long. I finally cried Uncle this morning. I couldn't have been less interested in the two main characters. Both unlikeable in their own, distinct ways. It went so far over to the other side for me that I couldn't care if these two found love or not. So, moving on.
March 29, 2017
This is one of the strangest love stories I ever read. On the one hand, it felt as if two guys were just getting together for some rough sex mixed in with a lot of down-home talkin’ and good earthy slogans, but under the surface level, when we scratch deep enough, it was really a love story between a 40+ old cowboy/farmer/rodeo rider and a 20+ NYC deejay who comes home to good ol’ Hixville,Texas, after his parents are killed in an accident.
Even blindfolded, I’d know Damon Suede wrote this due to his inimitable way of spitting out rough, tough, rapid-fire dialogue. Add to that the deep Texas accent of the older MC, and the often back-to-his-roots twang of the younger MC, and at times I found the dialogue and narrative difficult to follow.
The story in a nutshell: Patrick “Patch” Hastle, New York City-based international “circuit” deejay, is notified that his estranged parents left their farm to him when they were killed as his dad tried to beat a train through a crossing. Heading back to Hixsville, Texas, is the last thing he wants, but he needs the money from the sale of the farm to invest in a new club that he and his BF are planning to open.
Once there, he runs into good ol’ Tucker Biggs, his father’s BF and his one-time crush. In fact, that crush is still happening and may explain why his one-night stands in the city are always based on his fantasies about Tucker. Long story short, after being caught eavesdropping on a masturbating Tucker, the two fall into a fuck-buddies relationship that takes a turn for the better—or worse, depending on your viewpoint—when Patch realizes he loves the old guy and then later realizes the feeling might be mutual. But too many years of denying any feelings and too many years spent running (for Patch) and going too slow (for Tucker) make for a major communication gap.
Can the two find their way to much-needed communication? Can Patch possibly make a living down in Texas when his deejay work takes him all over the world? And can Tucker finally acknowledge his own needs, fears, and feelings? That’s what makes this story tick and what left this reader feeling very close to two very unlikely lovers. So despite sometimes being lost and not being a fan of the good ol’ boy twang in the dialogue, I still felt connected with the characters and I can’t seem to ferget ’em as the day goes on—a sure sign that this one needs to be at least a 4 star book.
ARC provided by the publisher through Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words in exchange for an impartial review.
Even blindfolded, I’d know Damon Suede wrote this due to his inimitable way of spitting out rough, tough, rapid-fire dialogue. Add to that the deep Texas accent of the older MC, and the often back-to-his-roots twang of the younger MC, and at times I found the dialogue and narrative difficult to follow.
The story in a nutshell: Patrick “Patch” Hastle, New York City-based international “circuit” deejay, is notified that his estranged parents left their farm to him when they were killed as his dad tried to beat a train through a crossing. Heading back to Hixsville, Texas, is the last thing he wants, but he needs the money from the sale of the farm to invest in a new club that he and his BF are planning to open.
Once there, he runs into good ol’ Tucker Biggs, his father’s BF and his one-time crush. In fact, that crush is still happening and may explain why his one-night stands in the city are always based on his fantasies about Tucker. Long story short, after being caught eavesdropping on a masturbating Tucker, the two fall into a fuck-buddies relationship that takes a turn for the better—or worse, depending on your viewpoint—when Patch realizes he loves the old guy and then later realizes the feeling might be mutual. But too many years of denying any feelings and too many years spent running (for Patch) and going too slow (for Tucker) make for a major communication gap.
Can the two find their way to much-needed communication? Can Patch possibly make a living down in Texas when his deejay work takes him all over the world? And can Tucker finally acknowledge his own needs, fears, and feelings? That’s what makes this story tick and what left this reader feeling very close to two very unlikely lovers. So despite sometimes being lost and not being a fan of the good ol’ boy twang in the dialogue, I still felt connected with the characters and I can’t seem to ferget ’em as the day goes on—a sure sign that this one needs to be at least a 4 star book.
ARC provided by the publisher through Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words in exchange for an impartial review.
December 31, 2019
Nope...this author is on the NO list after reading up on his role in the RWA mess, an in light of racist language in his books.
https://twitter.com/marjorieingall/st...
Original Review: April 2017:
I wanted this to be a 5 star book for me. Why wasn't it? The writing was good, the premise interesting (age gap, old crush, coming home, etc.), the characters complex. So what was off? For me, it was the pacing in the first half of the book before Patch and Tucker get together.
Much of what took place in the first half seemed repetitive brooding and whining on Patch's part about how bad he had it growing up, what a terrible place Hixville was, how horrible his parents had been, how awful Tucker had been to him, ad nauseam.
Patch's self-indulgent negativity became something to work with and resolve in second half of the book. For me, this is where the plot stated to move and I began to REALLY ENJOY the book like I thought I would. The second half of the book was a total 5 star rating for me. The first half, only rated 3 stars.
The sex was super hot--voyeurism, edging, bondage, exhibitionism--and amazingly detailed by Damon Suede. Tucker is one dirty cowboy, that's for sure. And he and Patch are scorching hot together!
Would I read this book again (after all, I've read Hot Head at least three times)? Maybe. Do I recommend it? Hell, its Damon Suede, how can you pass it up?
.
https://twitter.com/marjorieingall/st...
Original Review: April 2017:
I wanted this to be a 5 star book for me. Why wasn't it? The writing was good, the premise interesting (age gap, old crush, coming home, etc.), the characters complex. So what was off? For me, it was the pacing in the first half of the book before Patch and Tucker get together.
Much of what took place in the first half seemed repetitive brooding and whining on Patch's part about how bad he had it growing up, what a terrible place Hixville was, how horrible his parents had been, how awful Tucker had been to him, ad nauseam.
Patch's self-indulgent negativity became something to work with and resolve in second half of the book. For me, this is where the plot stated to move and I began to REALLY ENJOY the book like I thought I would. The second half of the book was a total 5 star rating for me. The first half, only rated 3 stars.
The sex was super hot--voyeurism, edging, bondage, exhibitionism--and amazingly detailed by Damon Suede. Tucker is one dirty cowboy, that's for sure. And he and Patch are scorching hot together!
Would I read this book again (after all, I've read Hot Head at least three times)? Maybe. Do I recommend it? Hell, its Damon Suede, how can you pass it up?
.
November 25, 2017
4.5 Stars
Once again, Damon knocks it out of the park for me.
Once again, Damon knocks it out of the park for me.
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