About Down by the River
by Rob Knight and BA Tortuga
123 pages / 40800 words
ISBN:
978-1-61040-000-8
Available file types - html, lit, pdf, prc, epub, Sony-optimized pdf
Phillip doesn't want to go back to Louisiana. He's got a good thing
going in Las Vegas, with a political career on the rise and a past he's
put behind him. When that past raises its ugly head, though, bringing
him full circle, Phil meets up with some people he never expected to see
again.
One of those people is his childhood friend, Grant Thibbideaux. Grant is
a successful businessman, just as eager to forget their past as Phil is.
Some things can't be hidden forever, and Phil and Grant have to work
together to find enough common ground to face their demons. Can they
build their friendship from the ashes of what it once was, and maybe
find love in the process?
Review
Mel Spenser, author of Miss Me?, writes: Phillip and Grant were childhood friends who haven’t seen each other since graduation. Both have become successful in their own way. However, they share a secret from their past that they thought that they had put behind them. When circumstances throw them together years later, they have to come to terms with many things. But their past and their present must be resolved before they can hope to have any sort of future together.
From the start, I could tell that this story was going to be different. It quickly becomes evident that we are dealing with unique characters in a situation that shows itself to be ominous.
The sex was hot and frequent, which is always a plus for me. Yet it was used to express how the characters feel for each other. When they see each other after so many years apart, the two men don’t dally, and proceed to make up for lost time. A lot.
Interlaced with all the hot sex is an interesting story. It is written in such a way as to allow the reader to figure what had happened in their shocking past. Little-by-little, through conversations and flashbacks, the story unfolds. By doing this, the reader also comes to understand the characters and their motives; especially the details of Phillip’s childhood and how those events evolved to now intrude on their present.
What I particularly found unexpected was the ending. I had not predicted it to play out the way that it did. And it’s always a treat to be surprised. I would recommend this story because it’s different and it’s somewhat of a mystery to be figured out. There is also tension, in that reader wants know how the characters can resolve their almost insurmountable problem; or if they are able to at all.
Sample
"Ellen, I need the Walberg files on my desk by three,
along with the case files that are going to the audit committee." Fucking
bureaucratic bullshit, but it had to be done. At least those pencil pushers
at the Nevada state auditors agency thought so. See him. See him be a very
good D.A. and not just set all that shit on fire and start over. Hell, as
much as he lectured on safe, sound and secure legal practices, there was a
ninety percent chance there was nothing to find.
Phillip sighed and smoothed his hands over his close-cropped hair, sleeves
already rolled up and ready for the day. Christ, he needed to get into the
gym again -- his arms were losing that gee-I'm-a-stud look and heading into
pencil neck geek territory. It didn't work for him.
At all.
Like not at all.
"I also need you to schedule a hair cut and a few sessions with the trainer.
Maybe twice a week for two months, hmm? Check with Steve to make sure my
speech for the opening of the children's wing in Peccole is ready. Did you
RSVP to Bill for his daughter's wedding?"
"Yes, sir. The governor's assistant asked if you would give a toast for the
bride."
"Of course. Get me the files on them, and we'll write something. Order them
something suitable." He synced his calendar and sorted idly through his
mail. Junk, junk, politics, junk. Blah blah blah. "Anything else right now?"
"No, sir. You have a staff meeting at four p.m. and dinner at the Olive with
Dr. Barton and his wife, Madeline."
"Ellen, Dr. Barton's wife name is Sylvia."
"Oh."
He chuckled, hung up the phone and tossed a half dozen social invitations,
kept a dozen more for Ellen to schedule for him, including a rather
swank-looking private invitation to discuss fund raising for a certain
D.A.'s possible run for the Senate.
Swank.
Him.
Phillip grinned at himself, shook his head a bit. Good thing the neon lights
around here had hidden his rough edges long enough for him to file them off.
The sunlight bounced off the toe of his loafer and caught his attention,
even as his emails neatly filed themselves into the pertinent folders. Damn,
he'd need to make sure his tux was cleaned for that wedding. Ellen would
know to get a gift that was suitably expensive, yet useful. Something the
newlyweds could use. She was brilliant that way.
A knock on his door and John McIver, assistant D.A., tennis freak and father
of six wandered in, two cups of coffee in hand -- one cafe au lait for him,
a low-fat latte with a shot of caramel for John. "Hey, man. We got a new
case."
Phillip waved the lanky blond into a chair, leather coasters at the ready.
"Anything good?"
"Depends on what you think is good, I guess." John gave him a tired smile
and handed over the coffee. Not bad, even if it was too weak.
"Homicide with a murder weapon, a body, and irrefutable DNA evidence?" That
always looked good for their office.
"Not even." He got a wink, and then a grimace as John tasted his own coffee.
"Man, they always make it so bitter."
Right. Bitter.
Lord, he missed good coffee. Even after twenty years. "So? Move to tea like
all the other poor lawyers with ulcers."
"I am not a prissy git, Phil. Anyway, it's an armed robbery, assault with
intent, yadda ya."
"Put Jeff and Linda on it. They're competent enough." For babies.
"Okay. They could use the practice, huh? Oh, hey, did you get a thing on
that cocktail party at the Simms'?"
Lord, that man was all about the social climbing. Of course, any man who had
six kids needed to have lots of money and ambition. Lots of money.
"Probably. You should go, get some media." Get bothered and questioned and
photographed. Give him some space. "Sue would absolutely love to go."
"You think?" The half-empty paper coffee cup hit the trashcan. "Well, then I
will. Anything else you need from me right now?"
"Don't forget the staff meeting, and make sure your shit is ready for that
audit." The last thing he needed was for shit to hit the fan this far into
the game.
"I'm ready, man. Really." He got the patented John who looked a like a
tennis pro smile. "Going before you get really growly."
"Kiss my ass, Johnny." He grinned back, knowing that years of practice had
given him a non-threatening smile that was effective, if completely
unnatural.
"Now, now. Don't get personal." At least the man remembered to close the
door when he left now. That had taken two years.
Like he'd get personal with that ass.
Christ.
He sorted the rest of his mail, leaving aside one plain envelope with the
return address of a correctional facility in Baton Rouge.
Who the hell wanted a Nevada district attorney from down there?
He slit the envelope open, staring down at the signature. Joe Boudrain.
Jesus.
Just.
No, it couldn't be.
Phillip looked again, not reading the letter yet, just staring at a rough,
messy signature with a name he hadn't heard in twenty years.
"Fuck me."