*Note: this review contains material not suitable for minors.

Sean+Kennedy+-+Tigers+and+Devils

This contemporary romance set in Australia is Sean Kennedy’s first book. It was published in spring 2009. Tigers and Devils is the story of Simon Murray, a film festival director in Melbourne, and Declan Tyler, a star Australian rules football (or footy) player for the Tassie Devils. It is one of the most romantic books I have read all year. It is funny, sexy, heartbreaking, and joyful. For about 2/3 of this book, I absolutely loved it, I mean over the moon loved it. After that point, I still enjoyed it a lot, but I was ready to move on before Kennedy ran out of story.

When I downloaded this book to my Kindle, I noticed it has 13,500 “Kindle locations”. I thought this must be a mistake. To compare, Judith Ivory’s Black Silk has 6678. Kelley Armstong’s Bitten is 6312. Meljean Brooks’ Demon Forged is 7761.  Meredith Duran’s Written on Your Skin is 4760. And a Harlequin Blaze is about 3200. So, Tigers and Devils is four times as long as a category and 2-3 times as long as most single title romances I read. The story covers about 18 months or more. It begins with Simon and Declan meeting, their courtship, their move into a settled relationship, and their weathering various obstacles together. The main conflict in the relationship is the fact that Declan is closeted and Simon is out. That is resolved a little after the halfway point, and although the fallout and change in their relationship was interesting and important, I felt it dragged.

For the first time in reading an m/m romance I was totally and completely swept away by the romance. Tigers and Devils is written in the first person from Simon’s point of view. He’s a self described “arty wanker”, who dresses in black, and keeps himself at a bit of a cynical distance. He’s self-esteem challenged, and doesn’t know when to shut up. He has a biting sense of humor, and sharp edges that work to protect him from hurt. Luckily, Simon has dear friends in Fran and Roger, a married couple who bring out the more lovable aspects of Simon’s personality.

When Fran and Roger drag Simon to a party, the last thing he expects is to meet one of the most famous footy players in Australia, who happens to be standing behind him when he is at once defending him — Declan, an expensive acquisition for the Devils, has been injured all season — and insulting him — as a highly paid and admire athlete, he comes off as a bit arrogant. When Declan later finds Simon outside and kisses him, Simon is shocked, turned on, and thrilled. This book does a wonderful job of capturing the joy Simon and Declan take in finding each other. As a reader, you are on that high with them, thrilled they have found each other and terrified something will go wrong. This book is not at all explicit like other m/m I have read. It was just incredibly romantic.

It was also incredibly funny. I was reminded very much of Jennifer Crusie in top form, especially her dialogue,  as I read this book. Declan comes out eventually, and the second half of the book transitions into dealing with the aftermath. Here’s a typical discussion:

[Simon] “You just have to be more careful, that’s all. You’re still… adjusting. There are rules to public conduct.”

“Oh.” Declan clicked his fingers sarcastically. “I didn’t know, because I wasn’t given the queer handbook when I came out. Is there a number I can call to get one sent to me?”

“It’s like cats and hunting. It’s intuitive.”

“So you’re saying I’m a lousy cat?”

I tried not to smile on this woeful analogy I had started. “Yeah, you’re missing some kind of generational chromosome.”

“In case you haven’t noticed, Simon, it’s like I have an invisible sign over my head announcing my sexuality to everybody. I don’t feel like I have to hide it anymore. Why the fuck can’t I kiss my boyfriend goodbye, like any other guy would with his girlfriend?”

“Because it’s not safe! You have to choose your moments.”

“You didn’t feel safe in the Napier?”

I sighed. “Not when I’m walking out into the dark street immediately afterward with only Nyssa to protect me.

You know, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle may be one of her favourite movies, but I really don’t think she can fight like Drew Barrymore if it came down to it.”

“That may be the gayest thing I’ve ever heard you say.”

“No, the gayest thing you’ve probably heard me say is ooh Declan yes yes.”

And another:

I could tell Dec was awake and had been for a few minutes longer than me as I struggled against the last vestiges of sleep and opened my eyes.

“Morning,” he murmured.

“Hey,” I grunted. “Were you watching me?”

“Maybe.”

“Stalker.”

“I can’t help it; you’re so pretty.”

I moaned and buried my head back into the pillow.

“Especially when you drool.”

Another way in which Tigers and Devils reminded me of Crusie was the large cast of characters. Not only did Simon’s best friends have key supporting roles, but so did Declan’s, as well as both men’s families, and both men’s coworkers. As I was reading it, I was thinking, “Huh. If there is such a thing as ‘men’s fiction’ this is it.”

This was an extremely detailed and, to me, realistic portrait of modern gay men falling in love and figuring it out. I loved the different complex models of masculinity presented by Simon and Declan. This is a short review (for me!) and I hope I don’t mislead anyone into thinking this is a “sensitive artist and dumb jock” story. In fact, these characters are so well drawn they fairly leap off the page. I also loved the many realistic conflicts they faced, not just the big ones but the garden variety ones. Simon’s being out is important to him, but so is Declan. Declan loves Simon, but he loves his career, and as an Australian rules football player, he may just have one of the least gay friendly careers on the planet. In addition, there is the celebrity angle, and not just paparazzi, but more interesting stuff. For example, Simon thinks he is the expert on coming out, that he will guide Declan through it. But, as a superstar, Declan’s public reception takes a very different trajectory — not easier, but unexpected — from Simon’s low key experience.  Simon has a bit of a hard time dealing with that. And finally, these are just two people in love, with communication issues, misunderstandings, and insecurities. Simon fears commitment, and Declan had been cheated on in the past.

I am so excited about this writer. It’s hard to believe this is Kennedy’s first book: I felt the writing was absolutely on a par with the best I have read in contemporary romance. He tells the stories I didn’t know I was thirsting to read. If you love contemporary romance, I strongly recommend Tigers and Devils.

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