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Tricks
Tricks can mean many sex partners, deceptions, even magic. In Rick R. Reed searing love story, it means all three.
Arliss is a gorgeous young dancer at Tricks, the hottest club in Chicago's Boystown. Sean is the classic nerd, out of place in Tricks, but nursing his wounds from a recent break-up. When the two spy each other, magic blooms. But this opposites-attract tale does not run smooth.
What happens when Arliss is approached by one of the biggest porn producers in the business? Can he make his dreams of stardom come true without throwing away the only real love he's ever known? And will this question even matter if the mysterious producers realize their dark intentions?
Arliss is a gorgeous young dancer at Tricks, the hottest club in Chicago's Boystown. Sean is the classic nerd, out of place in Tricks, but nursing his wounds from a recent break-up. When the two spy each other, magic blooms. But this opposites-attract tale does not run smooth.
What happens when Arliss is approached by one of the biggest porn producers in the business? Can he make his dreams of stardom come true without throwing away the only real love he's ever known? And will this question even matter if the mysterious producers realize their dark intentions?
182 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 13, 2010
5 people are currently reading
295 people want to read
About the author
Rick R. Reed
101 books1,045 followersReal Men. True Love.
Rick R. Reed is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than sixty works of published fiction, spanning genres such as horror, psychological suspense and love stories. He is a Lambda Literary Award finalist and a multiple Rainbow Award winner.
Entertainment Weekly has described his work as “heartrending and sensitive.” Lambda Literary has called him: “A writer that doesn’t disappoint…”
Find him at www.rickrreedreality.blogspot.com. Rick lives in Palm Springs, CA, with his two rescue dogs, Kodi and Joaquin.
Rick R. Reed is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than sixty works of published fiction, spanning genres such as horror, psychological suspense and love stories. He is a Lambda Literary Award finalist and a multiple Rainbow Award winner.
Entertainment Weekly has described his work as “heartrending and sensitive.” Lambda Literary has called him: “A writer that doesn’t disappoint…”
Find him at www.rickrreedreality.blogspot.com. Rick lives in Palm Springs, CA, with his two rescue dogs, Kodi and Joaquin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
November 7, 2015
Full release day review originally posted at Sinfully... Addicted to All Male Romance
3.5 stars
What started off as a sweet opposites attract romance, morphed into a suspense story that had me on the edge of my seat. The story had its ups and downs for me but I wound up really enjoying ride.
Arliss is twenty-one and has worked as an exotic dancer at Tricks for the past six months. He’s been on his own for a while and has had a tough time of it, but he’s holding his own. Quiet, conservative Sean is thirty-seven and has just been dumped by his boyfriend of three years after asking him to move in together. While Sean is slumming it at Tricks he takes note of Arliss dancing, but is also disgusted by the scene. Arliss has also noticed Sean and can tell he feels sad and out of place. A chance meeting later that night leads to the two lonely men hooking up and becoming an unlikely couple. From there, the book becomes a roller coaster ride when as the two men start to settle into a relationship Arliss is offered an opportunity to make one of his dreams come true.
Although Sean seems to have come to terms with Arliss working as a dancer he is still jealous and insecure. Arliss has a big heart and this relationship is a first for him so he is also insecure, waiting for Sean to tire of him. When he is approached by Josh Tyler, the gorgeous talent scout for Bad Moon Entertainment, who offers him a role in a porn film, Arliss is ready to live out his dream of being a star the only problem is he never expected have fallen in love and now he is torn between his dream and Sean. While Arliss thinks Sean should support him in his dreams, that he should understand that it would only be acting, Sean obviously feels very differently. Neither character was completely right, or completely wrong in the situation, and both make some poor choices that wind up with Arliss in a predicament he may not be able to escape.
I found the characters Arliss and Sean interesting and at times thought that their many differences just might be too hard to overcome. A significant difference in age and upbringing are just the tip of the iceberg. The relationship moves fast, and there is a time jump of two months after their meeting. I would have liked to see a bit more of their early days, but it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the story and I was still invested in the relationship enough to want to see things work out.
Rick R. Reed managed to ratchet up the suspense very well. There are hints dropped and insinuations that this film is going to be more than Arliss ever expected. Each of the two men behind the movie were creepy in a different way. Josh is a fascinating character who may not be as evil as he is mentally unstable, while his boss is seemingly just a vile human being. As Josh uses his good looks and smooth talk to ensure Arliss signs on you just can feel the web spinning. I was pulled in and on pins and needles for the situation Arliss found himself in. For me, I thought it wrapped up a bit too easily, but I wasn’t disappointed with the ultimate ending.
While the story starts out with a bit of fluff, it is overall a gritty and slightly dark story, but it does have a happy ending. The romance moves fast and while they may not always have been likeable I really wanted these two to come through for each other and I really just wanted Arliss to come out of the whole mess unscathed. As romantic-suspense this story worked well and had me eagerly turning the pages.
3.5 stars
What started off as a sweet opposites attract romance, morphed into a suspense story that had me on the edge of my seat. The story had its ups and downs for me but I wound up really enjoying ride.
Arliss is twenty-one and has worked as an exotic dancer at Tricks for the past six months. He’s been on his own for a while and has had a tough time of it, but he’s holding his own. Quiet, conservative Sean is thirty-seven and has just been dumped by his boyfriend of three years after asking him to move in together. While Sean is slumming it at Tricks he takes note of Arliss dancing, but is also disgusted by the scene. Arliss has also noticed Sean and can tell he feels sad and out of place. A chance meeting later that night leads to the two lonely men hooking up and becoming an unlikely couple. From there, the book becomes a roller coaster ride when as the two men start to settle into a relationship Arliss is offered an opportunity to make one of his dreams come true.
Although Sean seems to have come to terms with Arliss working as a dancer he is still jealous and insecure. Arliss has a big heart and this relationship is a first for him so he is also insecure, waiting for Sean to tire of him. When he is approached by Josh Tyler, the gorgeous talent scout for Bad Moon Entertainment, who offers him a role in a porn film, Arliss is ready to live out his dream of being a star the only problem is he never expected have fallen in love and now he is torn between his dream and Sean. While Arliss thinks Sean should support him in his dreams, that he should understand that it would only be acting, Sean obviously feels very differently. Neither character was completely right, or completely wrong in the situation, and both make some poor choices that wind up with Arliss in a predicament he may not be able to escape.
I found the characters Arliss and Sean interesting and at times thought that their many differences just might be too hard to overcome. A significant difference in age and upbringing are just the tip of the iceberg. The relationship moves fast, and there is a time jump of two months after their meeting. I would have liked to see a bit more of their early days, but it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the story and I was still invested in the relationship enough to want to see things work out.
Rick R. Reed managed to ratchet up the suspense very well. There are hints dropped and insinuations that this film is going to be more than Arliss ever expected. Each of the two men behind the movie were creepy in a different way. Josh is a fascinating character who may not be as evil as he is mentally unstable, while his boss is seemingly just a vile human being. As Josh uses his good looks and smooth talk to ensure Arliss signs on you just can feel the web spinning. I was pulled in and on pins and needles for the situation Arliss found himself in. For me, I thought it wrapped up a bit too easily, but I wasn’t disappointed with the ultimate ending.
While the story starts out with a bit of fluff, it is overall a gritty and slightly dark story, but it does have a happy ending. The romance moves fast and while they may not always have been likeable I really wanted these two to come through for each other and I really just wanted Arliss to come out of the whole mess unscathed. As romantic-suspense this story worked well and had me eagerly turning the pages.
November 5, 2015
Full review can be found at -
Everyone pretty much knows my love of this author's work so I won't fangirl too much in this review. ;) I will say that he's written another fantastic book that had me rushing to turn the pages on my Kindle to see what would be happening next.
It starts out with Sean, who'd just gone through a bad breakup, going inside a shady bar called Tricks. He'd seen the bar before but never thought he'd darken the doors of the place. Sean is a straight-laced guy who isn't exactly known for taking a walk on the wild side, if you get what I mean. Arliss is a sexy dancer who Sean spots within seconds of ordering a drink. There's a connection there when Arliss makes eye contact, but something forces Sean to rush out of the bar without attempting to speak to the young dancer. They somehow manage to meet up outside of the bar not long after and this is where their story begins.
This is a true opposites attract story. Sean, 37 to Arliss' 21, is pretty much settled in life and is looking for a faithful partner he can grow old with. Arliss had a rough childhood and wouldn't know normalcy if it hit him in the face. Somehow they make it work as a couple. That is, until Arliss is handed his long time dream practically on a silver platter and it causes problems between the two men. Unfortunately, Arliss trusts the wrong people and not only does it jeopardize the relationship he's finally found, but it could also cost him his life.
Fantastic book and one that had me nervous, yet eager, to see what would be happening next. Highly recommended if you're looking for a nice romance with quite a bit of thrilling moments thrown in.
This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.
December 5, 2010
Rick R. Reed’s provocative and completely enticing new novel, Tricks proves that even when this talented author writes about male go-go dancers and gay strip clubs, nothing is at it seems. Sinister forces swirl around the lives of his main characters, Arliss, a former hustler and current stripper and Sean, a first-time patron of the club Tricks, who is nursing a broken heart.
The book opens with a pulsing dance beat and well-hung Arliss doing his best strut.
What should be a typical, horny encounter with a crazy old coot of a patron at the bar clutching a twenty-dollar bill, soon turns into a menacing, chilling threat.
Oh, how Reed of Reed!
Arliss recovers from this bizarre experience to later run into Sean, whom he’d also noticed during his dance routine. The two men connect, Sean overcoming his initial prejudices about Arliss.
After an intoxicating night of dinner, bed and, well, dessert, Arliss thinks he may have found his someone, only to have this notion challenged by an unexpected early-morning appearance of Sean’s recently ex boyfriend, Jerome.
Sean’s reaction is not what Arliss – or anyone, male or female -- would want from his new lover. For Arliss, it unchains a host of memories from his unhappy, ugly past.
As usual, Reed has a scientist’s eye for the painful details that ground each and every character as he paints unflinching, resonant detail with his giddy, literal palette.
He has his finger on the pulse of exactly what is going on with gay men in the world today, especially the US. His honesty is both refreshing as it is timely.
With meth amphetamine use at an all-time high among gay men in America, Reed gives this particular addiction to his mesmerizing secondary character, the dancer, Antonio.
He also wisely addresses the issue of bareback sex, which among many gay men is more prevalent in the real world than writers and readers of gay fiction care to admit – or perhaps even realize.
His characters address the issues of sex, disease, drugs – legal and otherwise, love, fashion, communication, jealousy, ego, vulnerability, and, what constitutes the notion of tricks.
Sean and Arliss’ relationship deepens and threatens to unravel with the arrival of a third man. All of this is revealed with Reed’s searing, yet compassionate gaze.
My heart was with Arliss from the opening page and I badly wanted a happy ending for him. When his past bubbled to the surface in his new relationship with Sean, I kept thinking, please don’t hurt him, please don’t let anything bad happen to him.
I think this is Reed’s greatest gift as a writer. We watch him lift rocks, turning them over, making his characters squirm as he examines their gritty truth, exposing them to the light. Ultimately, his rocks are never returned the same way he found them and that is his trick. We can thank him for thrills and spills, high emotion and constant surprise. This is a wonderful book that makes you cry, scream and laugh along with his characters.
This is an author also makes you think.
For once, he has a happy ending, but it is laced with Reed’s typical steely edge.
It wouldn’t be a Rick R. Reed novel without a few…tricks.
The book opens with a pulsing dance beat and well-hung Arliss doing his best strut.
What should be a typical, horny encounter with a crazy old coot of a patron at the bar clutching a twenty-dollar bill, soon turns into a menacing, chilling threat.
Oh, how Reed of Reed!
Arliss recovers from this bizarre experience to later run into Sean, whom he’d also noticed during his dance routine. The two men connect, Sean overcoming his initial prejudices about Arliss.
After an intoxicating night of dinner, bed and, well, dessert, Arliss thinks he may have found his someone, only to have this notion challenged by an unexpected early-morning appearance of Sean’s recently ex boyfriend, Jerome.
Sean’s reaction is not what Arliss – or anyone, male or female -- would want from his new lover. For Arliss, it unchains a host of memories from his unhappy, ugly past.
As usual, Reed has a scientist’s eye for the painful details that ground each and every character as he paints unflinching, resonant detail with his giddy, literal palette.
He has his finger on the pulse of exactly what is going on with gay men in the world today, especially the US. His honesty is both refreshing as it is timely.
With meth amphetamine use at an all-time high among gay men in America, Reed gives this particular addiction to his mesmerizing secondary character, the dancer, Antonio.
He also wisely addresses the issue of bareback sex, which among many gay men is more prevalent in the real world than writers and readers of gay fiction care to admit – or perhaps even realize.
His characters address the issues of sex, disease, drugs – legal and otherwise, love, fashion, communication, jealousy, ego, vulnerability, and, what constitutes the notion of tricks.
Sean and Arliss’ relationship deepens and threatens to unravel with the arrival of a third man. All of this is revealed with Reed’s searing, yet compassionate gaze.
My heart was with Arliss from the opening page and I badly wanted a happy ending for him. When his past bubbled to the surface in his new relationship with Sean, I kept thinking, please don’t hurt him, please don’t let anything bad happen to him.
I think this is Reed’s greatest gift as a writer. We watch him lift rocks, turning them over, making his characters squirm as he examines their gritty truth, exposing them to the light. Ultimately, his rocks are never returned the same way he found them and that is his trick. We can thank him for thrills and spills, high emotion and constant surprise. This is a wonderful book that makes you cry, scream and laugh along with his characters.
This is an author also makes you think.
For once, he has a happy ending, but it is laced with Reed’s typical steely edge.
It wouldn’t be a Rick R. Reed novel without a few…tricks.
November 14, 2015
Note: This book was provided to me by the publisher through Hearts on Fire Reviews in exchange for an impartial review.
When Sean ‘s lover of two years dumps him just when he thought they were going to move in together and cement their relationship, his low self-esteem bottoms out. Knowing he’s not the handsome type and that he’s more likely to be referred to as a geek or a nerd, he decides to go out alone anyway, and he finds himself at Tricks, a Chicago club where male dancers make their living flashing their junk in the faces of eager bar patrons and collecting the bucks the customers stuff in their jocks.
Arliss is one of those gorgeous male dancers but he’s not quite the same as the others. Arliss has dreams of becoming a porn star, and he knows what he needs to do to stay on the path toward his dreams so he doesn’t dabble in drugs, and he doesn’t hookup with the bar patrons, at least not unless there’s more to it than cash. He spots Sean one night and thinks the guy looks cute but lonely, but before Arliss gets done working the room, Sean disappears.
Later that night, Arliss happens upon Sean along the shoreline as Sean had paused there to assess his life. It’s one of Arliss’s favorite after work rest spots, and the two end up talking and then going back to Sean’s apartment where Arliss blows Sean’s socks off. It may seem odd, but there’s a strong attraction between the thirty-something nerd and the twenty-three-year-old dancer. Within a few weeks they are living together, and it’s not until someone offers Arliss a chance to make his porn star dreams come true that Sean is horrified, angry, and unable to continue their relationship.
This isn’t a simple story, however. There are dark, sinister forces at work and the plans the film producers have in mind if they can get Arliss to sign with them are much worse than what they seem to be on the surface. I found myself trying to read while holding a hand in front of my face. Yes, I am a chicken. I don’t like scary movies and apparently that carries through to scary books. The problem here is that I did like the story, so I didn’t want to stop, but I was still afraid to keep reading. What a quandary. Of course I continued, and I’m so glad I did, but there were some pretty frightening moments when I feared that Arliss was going to be severely hurt before he managed to find his way back to Sean. The good news is that even geeks and nerds can perform some heroic moves, and Sean displayed that clearly in this story. I don’t want to share any spoilers, but I will say that I was pleasantly surprised by Sean’s support and even though I had to read in between the openings in my fingers as I held my hand to my face, the story was certainly worth finishing.
If you love age-gap, love at first sight, and sweet underrated main characters, you should like this one. And if you are a fan of thrillers, or at least nail-biting suspenseful M/M romance, you will definitely like this one. And as a bonus—THAT cover. Oh my!
When Sean ‘s lover of two years dumps him just when he thought they were going to move in together and cement their relationship, his low self-esteem bottoms out. Knowing he’s not the handsome type and that he’s more likely to be referred to as a geek or a nerd, he decides to go out alone anyway, and he finds himself at Tricks, a Chicago club where male dancers make their living flashing their junk in the faces of eager bar patrons and collecting the bucks the customers stuff in their jocks.
Arliss is one of those gorgeous male dancers but he’s not quite the same as the others. Arliss has dreams of becoming a porn star, and he knows what he needs to do to stay on the path toward his dreams so he doesn’t dabble in drugs, and he doesn’t hookup with the bar patrons, at least not unless there’s more to it than cash. He spots Sean one night and thinks the guy looks cute but lonely, but before Arliss gets done working the room, Sean disappears.
Later that night, Arliss happens upon Sean along the shoreline as Sean had paused there to assess his life. It’s one of Arliss’s favorite after work rest spots, and the two end up talking and then going back to Sean’s apartment where Arliss blows Sean’s socks off. It may seem odd, but there’s a strong attraction between the thirty-something nerd and the twenty-three-year-old dancer. Within a few weeks they are living together, and it’s not until someone offers Arliss a chance to make his porn star dreams come true that Sean is horrified, angry, and unable to continue their relationship.
This isn’t a simple story, however. There are dark, sinister forces at work and the plans the film producers have in mind if they can get Arliss to sign with them are much worse than what they seem to be on the surface. I found myself trying to read while holding a hand in front of my face. Yes, I am a chicken. I don’t like scary movies and apparently that carries through to scary books. The problem here is that I did like the story, so I didn’t want to stop, but I was still afraid to keep reading. What a quandary. Of course I continued, and I’m so glad I did, but there were some pretty frightening moments when I feared that Arliss was going to be severely hurt before he managed to find his way back to Sean. The good news is that even geeks and nerds can perform some heroic moves, and Sean displayed that clearly in this story. I don’t want to share any spoilers, but I will say that I was pleasantly surprised by Sean’s support and even though I had to read in between the openings in my fingers as I held my hand to my face, the story was certainly worth finishing.
If you love age-gap, love at first sight, and sweet underrated main characters, you should like this one. And if you are a fan of thrillers, or at least nail-biting suspenseful M/M romance, you will definitely like this one. And as a bonus—THAT cover. Oh my!
February 13, 2017
My only complaint is that I wanted
April 14, 2011
You know what I like sometimes? When I open a book, take a look at the main characters and immediately think "there is no possible way" and then an amazing story unfolds. That is what I like.
Arliss is a 21 year old stripper. Stripping at Tricks is the best thing that has happened to him since he came to the Windy City at the age of seventeen...well the best thing until he met Sean.
Sean is everything Arliss is not and in some strange and wonderful way, they fit. Sean thought he had been in love before only to realize it had been a smoke screen because it was nothing like what he felt for Arliss. Arliss thought when two people screw and stayed together for a long time that was what love was...until Sean.
Sean may love Arliss but he doesn't like what Arliss does for a living and understands that the money made stripping couldn't be matched in the 9-5 industry. Sean tries to think of it just as "work" besides, Arliss can't do it forever. Right? Then an "opportunity" of a life time is dropped into Arliss's lap that causes strife between him and Sean. Suddenly Arliss finds himself caged by his "dream come true" not knowing he could lose so much more than EVERYTHING.
I would like to thank Rick for not romanticizing stripping, pornos, and dirty dark corners in seedy bars. It is a trend that has become popular and even though I suffered some agony with the realism that was portrayed it was a breath of fresh air as well. I yelled at my husband, shook my Kindle, tried to read with my hand over my eyes and embarrassingly became teary eyed with relief. Even though I stomped around the house swearing that I was not going to read anymore, it was so well worth it. There was nothing forgettable about this book. I will be thinking about this for days.
Arliss is a 21 year old stripper. Stripping at Tricks is the best thing that has happened to him since he came to the Windy City at the age of seventeen...well the best thing until he met Sean.
Sean is everything Arliss is not and in some strange and wonderful way, they fit. Sean thought he had been in love before only to realize it had been a smoke screen because it was nothing like what he felt for Arliss. Arliss thought when two people screw and stayed together for a long time that was what love was...until Sean.
Sean may love Arliss but he doesn't like what Arliss does for a living and understands that the money made stripping couldn't be matched in the 9-5 industry. Sean tries to think of it just as "work" besides, Arliss can't do it forever. Right? Then an "opportunity" of a life time is dropped into Arliss's lap that causes strife between him and Sean. Suddenly Arliss finds himself caged by his "dream come true" not knowing he could lose so much more than EVERYTHING.
I would like to thank Rick for not romanticizing stripping, pornos, and dirty dark corners in seedy bars. It is a trend that has become popular and even though I suffered some agony with the realism that was portrayed it was a breath of fresh air as well. I yelled at my husband, shook my Kindle, tried to read with my hand over my eyes and embarrassingly became teary eyed with relief. Even though I stomped around the house swearing that I was not going to read anymore, it was so well worth it. There was nothing forgettable about this book. I will be thinking about this for days.
February 9, 2017
Wow, I really had a difficult time with this book. Until about 60% in, I loved it. Rick R. Reed does a wonderful job of creating memorable characters like Arliss, who has risen above a horrid childhood and created something for himself that he is successful at, and proud of, and justifiably so. I love how Sean and Arliss navigate the rocky landscape of their lives and carve out a relationship that works for then.
Until .....
Yeah, I know this is a "it's not you, it's me" situation.
Until .....
Yeah, I know this is a "it's not you, it's me" situation.
December 1, 2014
This was up and down.
At first I was a little disappointed at how FLUFFY bunny it was.
But then I got on the fluffy train and was rolling with it, and enjoying.
Then AHHHHH! Looked like that fluffy bunny was getting scalpelled to death.
It was a little bit of a shock, but I was on the edge of my seat.
Then...
Then...
Fizzle.
It was just to easy of a solution. It was taken to the edge of...whooooo this is gonna be "f"ed up...never really crossed that line though. Right were it should have been pins and needles, it folded up, with a easy out.
Overall, I liked the fluff...I liked the ride to the edge (so close). But the end petered out on me. So, not bad.
At first I was a little disappointed at how FLUFFY bunny it was.
But then I got on the fluffy train and was rolling with it, and enjoying.
Then AHHHHH! Looked like that fluffy bunny was getting scalpelled to death.
It was a little bit of a shock, but I was on the edge of my seat.
Then...
Then...
Fizzle.
It was just to easy of a solution. It was taken to the edge of...whooooo this is gonna be "f"ed up...never really crossed that line though. Right were it should have been pins and needles, it folded up, with a easy out.
Overall, I liked the fluff...I liked the ride to the edge (so close). But the end petered out on me. So, not bad.
December 4, 2015
Okay, here’s the thing. This book made me do something that I never ever do. Yes, I’m taking the cowardly route and putting all of the blame on the story. I…I…flipped to the last page when I was only around the two thirds mark.*gasp* I know, right? I couldn’t take it. I caved, I skipped, I cheated. I HAD to know. My breath was caught in my throat, my hands shook, and I couldn’t sleep. I love and hate this story for that. To be completely honest, I was a bit timid starting this one. I adore Rick to pieces and always get excited whenever one of his books pops up on my email. However I know that his true love does not lie with penning romance and frankly, I’m nervous about the scarier books he’s releasing. But this book looked ‘safe’ and I absolutely love the cover. Soo, here goes.
Things kick off with Arliss at work. He’s a dancer or a performer or…a stripper. He became a street kid at a tender age and was thrown into the ‘do or die’ reality of making it alone. As much as he hates it, strutting his stuff along the bar top at a decent club is far better than what he has done in the past. He’s an introvert and it’s mentally challenging for him to paint on his smile and allow his brain to check out of his body during his work hours. But the fact is, it’s good money and he has no other options. Despite his twenty-something years, he’s grown tired of the ‘scene’ and is looking for more. He is an anomaly among his co-workers because he refuses to fall down the slippery slope of the drugs surrounding him. I loved and admired his strength to just say no.
Then a patron at the bar catches his eye. It’s not a difficult task; he is so out of place he’s flashing like a neon sign. Sean had a bad week. He’s lonely, depressed and looking for a distraction. When a gorgeous dancer floats out to perform, he’s sufficiently distracted. Self-loathing and self-hatred rears its ugly head and he curses his stupidity and races out. Fate isn’t quite done with Sean and Arliss and their paths cross a second time that evening.
Sean and Arliss discover that opposites truly do attract one another and are swept away with the power of love. Arliss has never had a home before and Sean yearns to give Arliss this priceless gift.
And then….the suspense nearly drove me to a panic attack. I was terrified that it was going to fall apart and I just couldn’t take it. Soooo, I held my breath and guilty hit ‘last page’ and almost cried from relief. It was okay. Everything was going to be okay. After I knew this, I swiftly went back and finished the book.
It’s insta-love, age-gap, stripper/porn and fast-moving. I thoroughly enjoyed the suspenseful ride Reed takes us on. I always adore his boys and Arliss and Sean are no exception. Ohhh, and in case you needed confirmation *sheepish smile* it has a HEA.
*3.5 fast-fast-forward-forgive-me? stars*
Things kick off with Arliss at work. He’s a dancer or a performer or…a stripper. He became a street kid at a tender age and was thrown into the ‘do or die’ reality of making it alone. As much as he hates it, strutting his stuff along the bar top at a decent club is far better than what he has done in the past. He’s an introvert and it’s mentally challenging for him to paint on his smile and allow his brain to check out of his body during his work hours. But the fact is, it’s good money and he has no other options. Despite his twenty-something years, he’s grown tired of the ‘scene’ and is looking for more. He is an anomaly among his co-workers because he refuses to fall down the slippery slope of the drugs surrounding him. I loved and admired his strength to just say no.
Then a patron at the bar catches his eye. It’s not a difficult task; he is so out of place he’s flashing like a neon sign. Sean had a bad week. He’s lonely, depressed and looking for a distraction. When a gorgeous dancer floats out to perform, he’s sufficiently distracted. Self-loathing and self-hatred rears its ugly head and he curses his stupidity and races out. Fate isn’t quite done with Sean and Arliss and their paths cross a second time that evening.
Sean and Arliss discover that opposites truly do attract one another and are swept away with the power of love. Arliss has never had a home before and Sean yearns to give Arliss this priceless gift.
And then….the suspense nearly drove me to a panic attack. I was terrified that it was going to fall apart and I just couldn’t take it. Soooo, I held my breath and guilty hit ‘last page’ and almost cried from relief. It was okay. Everything was going to be okay. After I knew this, I swiftly went back and finished the book.
It’s insta-love, age-gap, stripper/porn and fast-moving. I thoroughly enjoyed the suspenseful ride Reed takes us on. I always adore his boys and Arliss and Sean are no exception. Ohhh, and in case you needed confirmation *sheepish smile* it has a HEA.
*3.5 fast-fast-forward-forgive-me? stars*
November 24, 2015
A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
If my life were an episode of Friends, I’d have pulled a Rachel and put this book into my freezer. For those who don’t understand the reference, Rachel put books that scared her into the freezer until she could process them and get over her fear. Tricks gave me that insane terror.
I had to check to inside credits again, just in case Stephan King had adopted “Rick R. Reed” as a pen name. See, this book has a malevolent undercurrent. Weird people turn up and say horrifying things. And there’s more going on than just a romance with a break-up to make-up. Josh is a man of two personalities, one is sympathetic, because he knows his proposition to Arliss is a façade for something far more sinister. The sociopathic side of Josh thinks Arliss should have known better. Arliss, while surviving homelessness and developing his street savvy, had been exploited time and time again. People who claimed to love him turned their backs, or pimped him out. He’s not proud of his past, but he’s working toward better things. One of his goals has always been to be in porn. Not a lofty goal, but a lucrative one for a former teen runaway. What’s standing in Arliss’ way is his love for Sean, and knowing that going down that path will sever the single loving relationship he’s ever experienced. Josh’s alluring offer has unseen threats, though, and it’s even worse than the real potential of diseased co-stars.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
5 stars
If my life were an episode of Friends, I’d have pulled a Rachel and put this book into my freezer. For those who don’t understand the reference, Rachel put books that scared her into the freezer until she could process them and get over her fear. Tricks gave me that insane terror.
I had to check to inside credits again, just in case Stephan King had adopted “Rick R. Reed” as a pen name. See, this book has a malevolent undercurrent. Weird people turn up and say horrifying things. And there’s more going on than just a romance with a break-up to make-up. Josh is a man of two personalities, one is sympathetic, because he knows his proposition to Arliss is a façade for something far more sinister. The sociopathic side of Josh thinks Arliss should have known better. Arliss, while surviving homelessness and developing his street savvy, had been exploited time and time again. People who claimed to love him turned their backs, or pimped him out. He’s not proud of his past, but he’s working toward better things. One of his goals has always been to be in porn. Not a lofty goal, but a lucrative one for a former teen runaway. What’s standing in Arliss’ way is his love for Sean, and knowing that going down that path will sever the single loving relationship he’s ever experienced. Josh’s alluring offer has unseen threats, though, and it’s even worse than the real potential of diseased co-stars.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
August 3, 2013
My first reaction is quite simply, "No, just no."
I think part of the problem is that I was nervous to read this to begin with, and then as I started to read it there were a lot of things I really, really didn't like about it.
I didn't like either of the main characters- or, in all honesty, any of the characters at all.
We have Arliss, a young, abused man who is now stripping at Tricks. In the beginning, there are claims that he is an introvert and that putting on this grand display really takes a lot out of him. As an introvert myself, I completely understood that. What I didn't understand is how suddenly, the performance keyed Arliss up and made his and Sean's sex life super grand.
Also, he wants to be a porn star and perform for how many people? Yeah, not really buying that. Additionally, what doesn't make sense is that he talks about how much he doesn't like the random sex thing anymore- and yet, he wants to do porn.
On top of that, his view of monogamy is heavily disturbing to me, personally. Even Josh, this so called "heartless" character who shows heart randomly and is just not a very well hatched out character, thinks that the whole "being loyal in my heart" thing is bull.
Then, there's Sean. Sean, who treats Arliss quite poorly in some parts, and the thoughts he has about him are just disgusting. Surely, because Arliss is a stripper and has a rough past, he must be HIV positive, right? To Sean, it wasn't using condoms for both of their safety, it was because Arliss was dirty in a sense, and there was no way Sean was going near that without covering himself.
At it's most basic levels, I took issue with what I felt was the author pushing their own political agenda, which is fine when it makes sense and fits, but I just felt it was handled completely inappropriately. Furthermore, the characters had too many similarities, especially in speech patterns. It just didn't work for me. Additionally, the insta-love was sorely disappointing. I felt no connection with these two, or more importantly, between them.
This was unfortunately a very bad introduction to Rick Reed for me, though I'm certainly open to second chances, so hopefully I'll have a better experience with my next read by him. This just wasn't for me at all.
The writing wasn't terrible, and for that, I gave it 2 stars.
I think part of the problem is that I was nervous to read this to begin with, and then as I started to read it there were a lot of things I really, really didn't like about it.
I didn't like either of the main characters- or, in all honesty, any of the characters at all.
We have Arliss, a young, abused man who is now stripping at Tricks. In the beginning, there are claims that he is an introvert and that putting on this grand display really takes a lot out of him. As an introvert myself, I completely understood that. What I didn't understand is how suddenly, the performance keyed Arliss up and made his and Sean's sex life super grand.
Also, he wants to be a porn star and perform for how many people? Yeah, not really buying that. Additionally, what doesn't make sense is that he talks about how much he doesn't like the random sex thing anymore- and yet, he wants to do porn.
On top of that, his view of monogamy is heavily disturbing to me, personally. Even Josh, this so called "heartless" character who shows heart randomly and is just not a very well hatched out character, thinks that the whole "being loyal in my heart" thing is bull.
Then, there's Sean. Sean, who treats Arliss quite poorly in some parts, and the thoughts he has about him are just disgusting. Surely, because Arliss is a stripper and has a rough past, he must be HIV positive, right? To Sean, it wasn't using condoms for both of their safety, it was because Arliss was dirty in a sense, and there was no way Sean was going near that without covering himself.
At it's most basic levels, I took issue with what I felt was the author pushing their own political agenda, which is fine when it makes sense and fits, but I just felt it was handled completely inappropriately. Furthermore, the characters had too many similarities, especially in speech patterns. It just didn't work for me. Additionally, the insta-love was sorely disappointing. I felt no connection with these two, or more importantly, between them.
This was unfortunately a very bad introduction to Rick Reed for me, though I'm certainly open to second chances, so hopefully I'll have a better experience with my next read by him. This just wasn't for me at all.
The writing wasn't terrible, and for that, I gave it 2 stars.
January 30, 2014
I love the way Rick Reed writes both the heart warming romance stories and also the gritty romance stories with the hard edge and a frisson of darkness.
This is one of the latter with love, romance and an underlying thread of tension. After a bust up with his boyfriend of 3 years Sean finds a new and surprising love with Arliss an exotic dancer at Tricks a popular gay night spot. Despite their differences they make a go of it but then Arliss is tempted by a job offer that will give him everything he has dreamed of but perhaps cause him to lose Sean.
Will their love come through this? And what is the right step to take for both of them? The story explores this and shows how love can be found in the most unlikely of places, with the most unlikely people and survive darkness and temptation.
Really great writing with two imperfect men who want to love and live and do it together. Gripping as Rick's stories always are and also very good.
This is one of the latter with love, romance and an underlying thread of tension. After a bust up with his boyfriend of 3 years Sean finds a new and surprising love with Arliss an exotic dancer at Tricks a popular gay night spot. Despite their differences they make a go of it but then Arliss is tempted by a job offer that will give him everything he has dreamed of but perhaps cause him to lose Sean.
Will their love come through this? And what is the right step to take for both of them? The story explores this and shows how love can be found in the most unlikely of places, with the most unlikely people and survive darkness and temptation.
Really great writing with two imperfect men who want to love and live and do it together. Gripping as Rick's stories always are and also very good.
February 23, 2013
This story is about a whorish dimwitted stripper with a troubled past, whose dream is to have sex for money in front of the camera. He meets a lovely guy, who's able to see more than a piece of meat in him and who offers him his love, his respect, his roof, his bed and his cat. But the stripper still wants to have sex for money in front of the camera. He tells his lover that he will be faithful to him "in his soul" and aren't able to comprehend why is he the only one who's ok with that. He exchanges his love for the prospect of very questionable, to say the least, fame and then suddenly understands that love is MORE important than having sex for money in front of the camera. Hallelujah..! Ah, the bad guys want to make some weird gang-bang-with-a-knife shoot with him and refuse to let him go. So, he begs his lover to save him. The stripper and The Nice Guy are together. The bad guys are in prison. The End.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2011
This is the first book I've read by this author (I know, I'm sooo late to the party) and I was prepared to be scared out of my wits. I was not. Instead, I was engaged from the first page, and completely invested in the characters by the end of the first chapter. Although Arliss and Sean are poles apart they are looking for the same thing--love, commitment, validation...The author takes us on a journey, exploring the darker side of the porn industry. Be careful what you wish for because it might come true is never more apparent as Arliss holds his dream in one hand even as that same dream almost destroys him. I enjoyed this novel very much and the best part is the fact that Rick R. Reed has a huge back list I can now explore.
November 11, 2010
just finished it and really really loved it. A great romance, 2 treedimensional characters and a suspenseful story just as you could expect from Rick Reed.
November 24, 2015
This review was originally written for Joyfully Jay Reviews and can be accessed here: http://joyfullyjay.com/2015/11/review...
If my life were an episode of Friends, I’d have pulled a Rachel and put this book into my freezer. For those who don’t understand the reference, Rachel put books that scared her into the freezer until she could process them and get over her fear. Tricks gave me that insane terror.
Arliss is a nobody. He’s a been an abused child, a high school dropout, a runaway, a homeless teen, a hustler, and more. Currently, at the ripe age of 22, he’s a stripper at a gay bar, aptly named Tricks, in Chicago’s Boystown neighborhood. (For those who don’t understand THAT reference, it’s an area on the near north side of the city which is thoroughly gay friendly. Chicago is a pretty gay friendly city, on the whole, but this is where the gay bars and Pride parade are located.) Arliss shakes his body five nights a week, and earns enough to pay his share of the rent in a flophouse apartment with two roommates who are virtual strangers and who are big into the PnP (party-and-play) scene. Arliss is not. He drinks a bit, and smokes a lot, but he doesn’t do drugs. Ever. Despite Arliss being a nobody, I really liked him. I felt a lot of empathy for his life and situation.
Thirty-seven year-old Sean is an everyday joe. He has a non-descript job, wears non-descript clothes, and has a non-descript life. He wanted to share that life with Jerome, but Jerome thought, “Nah!” and Sean brings his battered heart into Tricks for a bit of escapism. He finds Arliss to be very sexy, but he is turned off by the whole tawdry scene, so he takes a walk to the lake (Michigan for those not in the know). While hanging out there contemplating his misery and wondering how to get on without Jerome, Arliss approaches him. He also wanted to get away from the sweaty, groping crowd and find some peace. Meeting Sean there was a complete surprise, and a pleasant one. Arliss is usually down for some anonymous sex, but Sean isn’t. He insists on a date, and this begins their romance.
Quite unexpectedly, Sean and Arliss hit it off. They have one bad bit, when Jerome turns up like a bad penny, but Sean’s a persistent man and he wins Arliss back, for good. Well, he hopes so. It looks like that might be the case for a few months even, until the sexy Josh arrives on the scene offering thousands to Nobody Arliss for starring a porn movie.
I had to check to inside credits again, just in case Stephan King had adopted “Rick R. Reed” as a pen name. See, this book has a malevolent undercurrent. Weird people turn up and say horrifying things. And there’s more going on than just a romance with a break-up to make-up. Josh is a man of two personalities, one is sympathetic, because he knows his proposition to Arliss is a façade for something far more sinister. The sociopathic side of Josh thinks Arliss should have known better. Arliss, while surviving homelessness and developing his street savvy, had been exploited time and time again. People who claimed to love him turned their backs, or pimped him out. He’s not proud of his past, but he’s working toward better things. One of his goals has always been to be in porn. Not a lofty goal, but a lucrative one for a former teen runaway. What’s standing in Arliss’ way is his love for Sean, and knowing that going down that path will sever the single loving relationship he’s ever experienced. Josh’s alluring offer has unseen threats, though, and it’s even worse than the real potential of diseased co-stars.
Sean can’t handle the idea of his love, Arliss, being intimate with another man—not even as a job. It’s sickening to him, and he’s not shy about admitting that. He’s the perfect definition of a hero: an ordinary guy doing an extraordinary thing. While he wants to turn his back, he can’t forget that Arliss is young, and might make bad decisions. When that proves true, Sean goes into battle mode, hunting down his love and braving all the seedy elements that normally horrify him. If he can save Arliss from this experience, he’s going to—and, well, even if he can’t, he’s going to love Arliss through the aftermath…perhaps.
The suspense builds in the most ordinary of ways. A missed phone call. A harsh lie. A regret spoken and ignored. The darkest threat is only a hint until the reveal in the very ending pages, but that hint is brutal and made me set the book down before bed so I could sleep without freaking out. That sick dread bubbled within me as each page turned and I feared Arliss would be forever lost to Sean. And vice versa. Gah! No, this isn’t a fluffy romance.
The sexytimes are not the major focus, but the sentiment is high. The writing, as usual from Reed, is straightforward and unflinching. So much so that I could envision this nefarious plot being real, and unfolding in my own backyard. Quite distressing for a gal who lives an L ride from every location highlighted in the book. And Reed didn’t windowdress less-than-savory aspects of gay subculture including prostitution, substance abuse, drug use, and anonymous barebacking. The simple prose allowed the scenes to shine, and to illustrate the dearth of love in both Arliss’ and Sean’s lives, how they were isolated within a crowd. Deft foreshadowing had me seriously worried about a tragic end from nearly the beginning. (Thank goodness I didn’t break down and slip my iPad into the freezer!)
Note: This is the second release of Tricks, by a new publisher. I did not see any notes that reflect revision of the story from the first edition.
A review copy of this book was provided by Dreamspinner Press.
If my life were an episode of Friends, I’d have pulled a Rachel and put this book into my freezer. For those who don’t understand the reference, Rachel put books that scared her into the freezer until she could process them and get over her fear. Tricks gave me that insane terror.
Arliss is a nobody. He’s a been an abused child, a high school dropout, a runaway, a homeless teen, a hustler, and more. Currently, at the ripe age of 22, he’s a stripper at a gay bar, aptly named Tricks, in Chicago’s Boystown neighborhood. (For those who don’t understand THAT reference, it’s an area on the near north side of the city which is thoroughly gay friendly. Chicago is a pretty gay friendly city, on the whole, but this is where the gay bars and Pride parade are located.) Arliss shakes his body five nights a week, and earns enough to pay his share of the rent in a flophouse apartment with two roommates who are virtual strangers and who are big into the PnP (party-and-play) scene. Arliss is not. He drinks a bit, and smokes a lot, but he doesn’t do drugs. Ever. Despite Arliss being a nobody, I really liked him. I felt a lot of empathy for his life and situation.
Thirty-seven year-old Sean is an everyday joe. He has a non-descript job, wears non-descript clothes, and has a non-descript life. He wanted to share that life with Jerome, but Jerome thought, “Nah!” and Sean brings his battered heart into Tricks for a bit of escapism. He finds Arliss to be very sexy, but he is turned off by the whole tawdry scene, so he takes a walk to the lake (Michigan for those not in the know). While hanging out there contemplating his misery and wondering how to get on without Jerome, Arliss approaches him. He also wanted to get away from the sweaty, groping crowd and find some peace. Meeting Sean there was a complete surprise, and a pleasant one. Arliss is usually down for some anonymous sex, but Sean isn’t. He insists on a date, and this begins their romance.
Quite unexpectedly, Sean and Arliss hit it off. They have one bad bit, when Jerome turns up like a bad penny, but Sean’s a persistent man and he wins Arliss back, for good. Well, he hopes so. It looks like that might be the case for a few months even, until the sexy Josh arrives on the scene offering thousands to Nobody Arliss for starring a porn movie.
I had to check to inside credits again, just in case Stephan King had adopted “Rick R. Reed” as a pen name. See, this book has a malevolent undercurrent. Weird people turn up and say horrifying things. And there’s more going on than just a romance with a break-up to make-up. Josh is a man of two personalities, one is sympathetic, because he knows his proposition to Arliss is a façade for something far more sinister. The sociopathic side of Josh thinks Arliss should have known better. Arliss, while surviving homelessness and developing his street savvy, had been exploited time and time again. People who claimed to love him turned their backs, or pimped him out. He’s not proud of his past, but he’s working toward better things. One of his goals has always been to be in porn. Not a lofty goal, but a lucrative one for a former teen runaway. What’s standing in Arliss’ way is his love for Sean, and knowing that going down that path will sever the single loving relationship he’s ever experienced. Josh’s alluring offer has unseen threats, though, and it’s even worse than the real potential of diseased co-stars.
Sean can’t handle the idea of his love, Arliss, being intimate with another man—not even as a job. It’s sickening to him, and he’s not shy about admitting that. He’s the perfect definition of a hero: an ordinary guy doing an extraordinary thing. While he wants to turn his back, he can’t forget that Arliss is young, and might make bad decisions. When that proves true, Sean goes into battle mode, hunting down his love and braving all the seedy elements that normally horrify him. If he can save Arliss from this experience, he’s going to—and, well, even if he can’t, he’s going to love Arliss through the aftermath…perhaps.
The suspense builds in the most ordinary of ways. A missed phone call. A harsh lie. A regret spoken and ignored. The darkest threat is only a hint until the reveal in the very ending pages, but that hint is brutal and made me set the book down before bed so I could sleep without freaking out. That sick dread bubbled within me as each page turned and I feared Arliss would be forever lost to Sean. And vice versa. Gah! No, this isn’t a fluffy romance.
The sexytimes are not the major focus, but the sentiment is high. The writing, as usual from Reed, is straightforward and unflinching. So much so that I could envision this nefarious plot being real, and unfolding in my own backyard. Quite distressing for a gal who lives an L ride from every location highlighted in the book. And Reed didn’t windowdress less-than-savory aspects of gay subculture including prostitution, substance abuse, drug use, and anonymous barebacking. The simple prose allowed the scenes to shine, and to illustrate the dearth of love in both Arliss’ and Sean’s lives, how they were isolated within a crowd. Deft foreshadowing had me seriously worried about a tragic end from nearly the beginning. (Thank goodness I didn’t break down and slip my iPad into the freezer!)
Note: This is the second release of Tricks, by a new publisher. I did not see any notes that reflect revision of the story from the first edition.
A review copy of this book was provided by Dreamspinner Press.
March 5, 2020
dark... love... sexiness.. fun.. very interesting and kept me on the edge of my seat. i loved it
May 4, 2011
Tricks is an amazing novel - a deeply moving story of the human spirit. On one level, this is a classic ‘opposites attract’ romance, a story of two men falling in love against all odds. Arliss is a street-smart young man, a teenage runaway who once sold sex, but who now sells its promise instead. Sean is older, white-collar, slightly nerdy, and on the rebound from a long-term relationship. There is an immediate connection between the two men, and the slow progression of their relationship is one of the book’s many charms, especially since the concept of dating, of taking things slow, is completely foreign to Arliss.
On another level, this is also a story of dreams . . . a cautionary tale of being careful what you wish for. Ever since he hit the streets, Arliss has always dreamed of becoming an adult film star. It’s not just about the sex – he’s already had that in droves – but about the celebrity factor and the sense of public accomplishment/acknowledgement. When an opportunity lands in his lap, he has to make a difficult choice between the career of which he’s always dreamt, and the romance for which he’s never dared hope. While it’s true there is no one right choice, there are very significant consequences for making the wrong one.
It’s here that Rick’s reputation as the “Stephen King of gay horror” creeps in to haunt the romance. Although it takes a while for it to be fully realised, he weaves in an eerie thread of anxious suspense that’s made up of awkward glances, chilling words, and shadows in the night. We’re on edge, ready for the worst, but we can’t begin to imagine where the danger is going to come from, or what form it might take. The combination of romance and suspense makes for read that is uncomfortable at time, but which serves to further engage our curiosity.
This is a story of real men, in real situations, in the real world . . . warts and all. There’s nothing pretty or perfect about the sex industry, as Arliss has experienced it, but it’s also not the all-consuming force of destruction some authors choose to portray. Arliss and Sean are men faced with real choices and, ultimately, it is they who shape the world of Tricks, not the other way around. They way in which they choose to resolve their situation is entirely satisfying, and the final line of the story is one of the most chilling 'happy endings' you will ever read.
On another level, this is also a story of dreams . . . a cautionary tale of being careful what you wish for. Ever since he hit the streets, Arliss has always dreamed of becoming an adult film star. It’s not just about the sex – he’s already had that in droves – but about the celebrity factor and the sense of public accomplishment/acknowledgement. When an opportunity lands in his lap, he has to make a difficult choice between the career of which he’s always dreamt, and the romance for which he’s never dared hope. While it’s true there is no one right choice, there are very significant consequences for making the wrong one.
It’s here that Rick’s reputation as the “Stephen King of gay horror” creeps in to haunt the romance. Although it takes a while for it to be fully realised, he weaves in an eerie thread of anxious suspense that’s made up of awkward glances, chilling words, and shadows in the night. We’re on edge, ready for the worst, but we can’t begin to imagine where the danger is going to come from, or what form it might take. The combination of romance and suspense makes for read that is uncomfortable at time, but which serves to further engage our curiosity.
This is a story of real men, in real situations, in the real world . . . warts and all. There’s nothing pretty or perfect about the sex industry, as Arliss has experienced it, but it’s also not the all-consuming force of destruction some authors choose to portray. Arliss and Sean are men faced with real choices and, ultimately, it is they who shape the world of Tricks, not the other way around. They way in which they choose to resolve their situation is entirely satisfying, and the final line of the story is one of the most chilling 'happy endings' you will ever read.
June 17, 2011
This is the first book I've read by this author and, knowing his reputation for horror, I eased into it, wondering what I'd find. Rick R. Reed lulled me into a sweet, opposites-attract romance, then pulled me to the edge of my seat, my heart pounding in fear that had less to do with unnamed things that go bump in the night and everything to do with the monsters that walk among us in broad daylight.
Poor bruised-by-life Arliss stole my heart from the book's first pages. What he does for a living, what he's done to survive, hasn't jaded him nearly as much as he believes. In ways he's still an innocent, and perfect prey for predators.
Enter Sean. Good, decent, and worlds removed from Arliss' tough upbringing. He brings hope and love to Arliss' dark world, and I cheered, thinking that young man needed an HEA more than anyone.
Then the story turned dark. It started slowly, subtly, reeling me in bit by bit, and then... BAM!!I was hit over the head by a dark underworld that didn't dwell in the gutters in sewers, but in gleaming high rises.
Arliss made some bad decisions, but Mr. Reed kept us right there with him, letting us see how and why he did. Like others have said here in their reviews, I wanted to run in, grab the kid, and hide him until the evil monsters went away.
Enter Sean. Again. For an unassuming Mr. Average, he played the White Knight so convincingly. For all that he didn't like Arliss' decision, and I thought the relationship over, these words summed up to me what it means to truly, completely, unconditionally love someone:
"I want you to know, my love, if you do stay, I will be waiting when you come out the other side."
Even knowing what was likely to happen, how the next few hours would irreversibly change Arliss forever, Sean stayed true. And in the end, that overwhelming love, the willingness to brave the dragon's den to save the man he loved... saved the man he loved.
My emotions were twisted and turned inside out, upside down, and sideways... and I loved every heart-pounding minute of it.
Poor bruised-by-life Arliss stole my heart from the book's first pages. What he does for a living, what he's done to survive, hasn't jaded him nearly as much as he believes. In ways he's still an innocent, and perfect prey for predators.
Enter Sean. Good, decent, and worlds removed from Arliss' tough upbringing. He brings hope and love to Arliss' dark world, and I cheered, thinking that young man needed an HEA more than anyone.
Then the story turned dark. It started slowly, subtly, reeling me in bit by bit, and then... BAM!!I was hit over the head by a dark underworld that didn't dwell in the gutters in sewers, but in gleaming high rises.
Arliss made some bad decisions, but Mr. Reed kept us right there with him, letting us see how and why he did. Like others have said here in their reviews, I wanted to run in, grab the kid, and hide him until the evil monsters went away.
Enter Sean. Again. For an unassuming Mr. Average, he played the White Knight so convincingly. For all that he didn't like Arliss' decision, and I thought the relationship over, these words summed up to me what it means to truly, completely, unconditionally love someone:
"I want you to know, my love, if you do stay, I will be waiting when you come out the other side."
Even knowing what was likely to happen, how the next few hours would irreversibly change Arliss forever, Sean stayed true. And in the end, that overwhelming love, the willingness to brave the dragon's den to save the man he loved... saved the man he loved.
My emotions were twisted and turned inside out, upside down, and sideways... and I loved every heart-pounding minute of it.
March 24, 2011
This is not one of my favorite Rick Reed stories. I did like it, but I just couldn't get past Arliss' insistence on becoming a gay porn star. I applaud his tenacity in getting away from his small home town and his abusive home situation, and in keeping himself employed as a dancer, these are all positive achievements, but after meeting and falling in love with Sean and making further strides in improving his life, he still clung to his goal of becoming a porn star. This just feeds into the old adage that you can take the boy out of the streets, but you can't take the streets out of the boy.
The book is well written and Mr. Reed does a good job in exploiting the tensions between Sean and Arliss.
I give Tricks three stars.
November 29, 2015
Excellent book!! I loved this book and love the authors writing style. This book seems to have everything from mystery to hot sex. The character development was spot on in my book. The author captured my interest right from the beginning and held it until the end. If you want to read a book with a well thought-out plot and an author with a great writing style then this is definitely the book to read. Excellent job Mr. Reed.
I was given this book by Inked Rainbow Reads in exchange for an honest review.
I was given this book by Inked Rainbow Reads in exchange for an honest review.
January 27, 2012
Amazing book....I wanted to jump to Josh's house and rescue Arliss myself...
December 10, 2016
I liked part 1 but part 2 was so not for me at all. It didn't fit with the MCs I met in part one. The nativity was annoying. Nope that didn't work for me.
March 8, 2020
I fell for Arliss early in the first chapter when he talked about avoiding the drug trap many dancers fall into, but he was clearly needing to hit the alcohol to get up for going on stage. It just felt like there were many things we were going to find out about him and that his path might be a tough one. I am always up for the nerd out of water trope and with Sean there right after a breakup it was bound to happen that these two would connect. It was also quite probable Sean would have issues with the dancing and then even more as the possiblity Arliss could get into making porn arose. I love to see couples deal with huge, possibly relationship ending issues and watch how they negotiate or fail to negoatiate. This book gave me plenty of that. Their relationship was hot and emotional and I bought into it right away. I also love books where there are dark forces conspiring against one of the main characters and boy do we get that here. I don't usually get scared that really bad things will happen when I know it is a romance, but that last chapter here had me on the edge of my seat. There were some seriously creepy guys there for Arliss. It took the Epilogue ending to actually let me relax.
March 9, 2020
3.5 stars- Some bumps, but interesting and different
Tricks was an interesting read that took me a few different places. Every time I seemed to wrap my brain around the main characters, their path, and the book’s tone- it shifted. These switch-ups weren’t negative, but rather kept me guessing, which is a different experience when reading a contemporary romance. Overall, I enjoyed Tricks.
I liked the pairing in this May-December, opposites attract romance. Both men were honest about their personal flaws but their attraction and commitment was clear from the start. I also thought the move from flirty romance to sweet, grounded love before traversing a bumpy path to a happily-ever-after made for an interesting plotline. My only issue was with the resolution. It felt rushed and easy to close and given the emotional build-up that hooked me and had my blood pumping, it felt a bit like a letdown. That said, the wrap in the epilogue provided some necessary answers and made for a nice, sweet ending. I think fans of romances with a bit of a darker edge might enjoy Tricks and the myriad of different turns this story takes.
*eARC received via Gay Romance Reviews. The PA and author had no influence over this review*
Tricks was an interesting read that took me a few different places. Every time I seemed to wrap my brain around the main characters, their path, and the book’s tone- it shifted. These switch-ups weren’t negative, but rather kept me guessing, which is a different experience when reading a contemporary romance. Overall, I enjoyed Tricks.
I liked the pairing in this May-December, opposites attract romance. Both men were honest about their personal flaws but their attraction and commitment was clear from the start. I also thought the move from flirty romance to sweet, grounded love before traversing a bumpy path to a happily-ever-after made for an interesting plotline. My only issue was with the resolution. It felt rushed and easy to close and given the emotional build-up that hooked me and had my blood pumping, it felt a bit like a letdown. That said, the wrap in the epilogue provided some necessary answers and made for a nice, sweet ending. I think fans of romances with a bit of a darker edge might enjoy Tricks and the myriad of different turns this story takes.
*eARC received via Gay Romance Reviews. The PA and author had no influence over this review*
February 29, 2020
🙁 How does each Rick R. Reed book surpass the last?! Riveting!👍👍
😊😍What a terrific (in both senses of the word) tale! I was drawn into this couple's story from the first chapter and, as the tension built to a heart-thumping climax, it just got better and better.
Author Rick Reed has never let me down in the emotion and drama of his books that I've read, but each new one seems even better than his last. The romance, the intimacy, the reality of gay social life, homophobia, surviving on the streets, the continued trauma of abuse, and the ease with which a naive young man can be pulled down the rabbit hole to danger with a bit of flattery and friendliness: wow, they all work superbly in this powerful novel.🤗
This is a cautionary tale tempered by the triumph of the discovery of a true love. There's true sadistic evil and self harm perpetrated or at least planned by some of the characters, so be forewarned. But it's one of the most engrossing stories I've read in a while and I can't wait to see what new treats the author has in store!
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
😊😍What a terrific (in both senses of the word) tale! I was drawn into this couple's story from the first chapter and, as the tension built to a heart-thumping climax, it just got better and better.
Author Rick Reed has never let me down in the emotion and drama of his books that I've read, but each new one seems even better than his last. The romance, the intimacy, the reality of gay social life, homophobia, surviving on the streets, the continued trauma of abuse, and the ease with which a naive young man can be pulled down the rabbit hole to danger with a bit of flattery and friendliness: wow, they all work superbly in this powerful novel.🤗
This is a cautionary tale tempered by the triumph of the discovery of a true love. There's true sadistic evil and self harm perpetrated or at least planned by some of the characters, so be forewarned. But it's one of the most engrossing stories I've read in a while and I can't wait to see what new treats the author has in store!
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
February 27, 2020
It took me a while to become fully invested in Rick Reed's Tricks, but once I did, I couldn't put it down.
Arliss, a dancer at a sleezy club meets Sean. What follows is a riveting ride, as the two mesh well, but are facing a whole lot of conflict. And damn, that conflict is intense.
This story includes many references to drug use, prostitutes, orgies, porn, gang bangs, rape, and more. If that isn't your thing, skip this one. What I truly enjoy is the intense fear and awareness of contracting HIV in this story that explores many aspects of the world of "tricks."
The author does a great job developing this tale with fabulous writing, a complex storyline, and two intriguing characters. The pace is quick, and the action non-stop. And in the end the suspense kept me reading late into the read.
Tricks is a great read. Definitely check out this Rick Reed book when you're in the mood for a complex story revolving around the world of drugs, sex, clubs, and porn.
Arliss, a dancer at a sleezy club meets Sean. What follows is a riveting ride, as the two mesh well, but are facing a whole lot of conflict. And damn, that conflict is intense.
This story includes many references to drug use, prostitutes, orgies, porn, gang bangs, rape, and more. If that isn't your thing, skip this one. What I truly enjoy is the intense fear and awareness of contracting HIV in this story that explores many aspects of the world of "tricks."
The author does a great job developing this tale with fabulous writing, a complex storyline, and two intriguing characters. The pace is quick, and the action non-stop. And in the end the suspense kept me reading late into the read.
Tricks is a great read. Definitely check out this Rick Reed book when you're in the mood for a complex story revolving around the world of drugs, sex, clubs, and porn.
February 26, 2020
Sean doesn’t expect to find someone to love the night he watches a beautiful young man dance on a bar. Arliss didn’t expect to find someone to love when he sat down next to a nerdy looking guy, staring out at the water. What they find is precious, if they can just hold on to it.
I have read several of this authors books they don’t usually disappoint. This one wasn’t as dark as some but still had a tinge of evil. Nice writing and character development. That said, the issue I had was that I didn’t care for Arliss that much. While their insta romance was hot, it just seemed like he was outside the relationship looking in.
I will definitely continue to read this author.
I received an arc of this book.
I have read several of this authors books they don’t usually disappoint. This one wasn’t as dark as some but still had a tinge of evil. Nice writing and character development. That said, the issue I had was that I didn’t care for Arliss that much. While their insta romance was hot, it just seemed like he was outside the relationship looking in.
I will definitely continue to read this author.
I received an arc of this book.
March 11, 2020
🌟✨🌟✨4 Intriguing and Sweet Stars🌟✨🌟✨
This story actually had me hooked immediately from the first chapters. Arliss the dancer and nerdy Sean were well developed characters. Arliss spies Sean at the bar and is attracted, but Sean, feeling totally out of place leaves the bar before Arliss can meet him. A chance meeting on the beach brings them together and the chase is on. As the relationship develops, Sean learns to trust again. But Arliss has always dreamed of becoming a porn star and when a movie mogul offers him a dream gig, does Arliss choose love or his dream? 1-click to begin their journey and the wild, didn’t see that coming at the end but a romantic HEA!
This story actually had me hooked immediately from the first chapters. Arliss the dancer and nerdy Sean were well developed characters. Arliss spies Sean at the bar and is attracted, but Sean, feeling totally out of place leaves the bar before Arliss can meet him. A chance meeting on the beach brings them together and the chase is on. As the relationship develops, Sean learns to trust again. But Arliss has always dreamed of becoming a porn star and when a movie mogul offers him a dream gig, does Arliss choose love or his dream? 1-click to begin their journey and the wild, didn’t see that coming at the end but a romantic HEA!
February 24, 2020
This started off as a reminder of Pretty Woman which I loved, Sean and Arliss met when Sean popped into Tricks as Arliss is a dancer. It started off as a sweet romance, till the night that Josh turned up at Tricks, evil personified or so I thought, I was on the edge, scared of what might happen to Arliss but thanks to a tenacious Sean, one click to find out what happened! Rick is a great storyteller it took a while for my heart to stop pounding.
I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book for my honest opinions of which I’m under no obligation to do so. I absolutely recommend this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book for my honest opinions of which I’m under no obligation to do so. I absolutely recommend this book.
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