Lovers Leap

If they looked, would they ever leap?

Good-looking, confident, and doted on by his widowed mum, Michael is used to thinking only of himself. Getting shoved off an Isle of Wight pier by an exasperated ex ought to come as a wake-up call—but then he meets Rufus and he’s right back to letting the little head take charge. Rufus is cute, keen, and gets under Michael’s skin in a disturbing way.

Would-be chef Rufus can’t believe his luck when a dripping wet dream of a man walks out of the sea on his birthday, especially when Michael ends up staying at the family B&B. Life is perfect—at least until Michael has to go home to the mainland.

Rufus can’t leave the island for reasons he’s entirely neglected to mention. And though Michael identifies as bi, breaking his mum’s heart by coming out and having an actual relationship with a guy has never been his plan. With both men determined to keep their secrets, a leap of faith could land them in deep water.

In this screwball romantic comedy, a vacation fling turns into something deeper as a commitment-phobic guy meets the man of his dreams while staying on the Isle of Wight. After Michael O’Grady chooses the worst possible way to break up with his girlfriend, she pushes him off a pier; emerging from the ocean, he encounters Rufus Kewell, a talented chef working at his family’s B&B. In short order, Michael and Rufus fall into bed, where much fun is had by both. But fun is all Michael wants, and Rufus is ready for something serious. If their relationship is to work, Michael has to deal with his internalized fear of settling down and his homophobic mother, while Rufus has to conquer his fear of leaving the island and his family. Merrow (Out!) delivers a fast-paced, tongue-in-cheek tale full of memorable secondary characters, romantic chemistry, and local scenery. The writing has a British sensibility in its dry humor, and the satisfying story bounces between zany and sweet. (Mar.)\n