Cultivating Love

Title: Cultivating Love
Author: Addison Albright
Publisher: Loose ID
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novella
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

A Guest Review by Aunt Lynn

THE BLURB

A man of few words, Joe is a hard-working farmhand who likes his simple, uncomplicated life. Ed is satisfied with his existence as an auto mechanic, but thrilled when an unexpected development in his life allows him to help Joe realize a dream.

It forces them, however, to reevaluate the casual, undefined nature of their relationship. They’re too macho to speak of love, and neither would ever dream of acknowledging he doesn’t really mind when it’s his turn to bottom. When life throws them a curve ball, and the rules of their game get old, Ed makes an effort to take every aspect of their relationship up a notch. Will Joe be able to adapt to the open sentimentality Ed’s injecting into their relationship, let alone the new spice in their bedroom activities?

THE REVIEW

Cultivating Love is the first story by Addison Albright I’ve read, and I found it to be a well-written, wonderful tale of taking chances and owning up to feelings. It’s gentle in that all of the little conflict and drama there is is external, and it isn’t terribly angst-ridden. Nor is it jam-packed with smexxin, making it more of a love story than erotica, something I appreciate from time to time. I smiled and shed a tear or two.

Ed and Joe are great heroes, two regular guys who have been in a casual, but committed relationship for the last two and a half years. They felt very real to me. Even though neither is eager or willing to define what that relationship is — they live and have sex together (keeping careful track of whose turn it is to top and never anything other than one position, please) — it’s obvious to us and to each other that they care about one another deeply. When Ed’s father passes away — a man who Ed thought died twenty-five years prior — and leaves him a thriving farm, our heroes are put into the position of at least talking about their feelings some in order to make decisions about their futures. Ed says:

“We’re solid, right? I mean—shit—we don’t talk about this stuff, but…well…you know… This isn’t something I can commit to without knowing you’re with me for the long haul, or at least that you intend to be.”

One of the things I really liked about this story was how we experience, along with Ed and Joe via their shifting POVs, the discovery of their deeper feelings, of how they can be less than “manly” around each other and it still be okay, for them to lean on each other in times of need. The first time they grab hands, call each other “partner,” give BJs, face each other during sex, shed tears in front of each other are surprising yet joyous occasions for them.

Joe’s smile was wide as they walked back toward the house. Partners. Ed had called them partners. He glanced over at Ed and caught him staring with a cheesy grin on his face. “What? You look like the cat that got the cream over there.”

Ed laughed. “I was just thinking the same thing. You look so incredibly happy right now.”

Happy? Hell, he was floating on cloud nine. More so over the partners comment than anything else, but everything in his life was coming together perfectly.

Another was how, although they may not say the three little words or be super comfortable with emotions, they are very accepting of their orientation and are loathe to be feel like they need to go back in the closet. They are what they are. Often, in stories about small towns, the heroes are doing whatever they can to hide as to not attract unwanted attention or hateful violence. Not here. They don’t flaunt it, but they are not afraid for it to be known they are together.

My only complaint is that I could easily have read more of this story. I thought there were several sub-plots that could have been further developed, and I felt it ended a tad abruptly.

OVERALL

Cultivating Love is a wonderful love story with two great heroes. I highly recommend it for those looking for a feel-good read.