Take This Man - Gay Romance Stories

Not all short story collections are completely devoid of romance, but the overwhelming majority of them tend to focus on the erotic. The sixteen entries included in the timely, enticing anthology, "Take This Man: Gay Romance Stories," edited by author and contributor Neil Plakcy, feature couples in various relationship stages, and in most cases, there is talk of marriage -- the institution that was once considered beyond the reach of same sex unions.

What makes this group of vignettes especially refreshing is that while these men all uniformly believe in their hearts they have found their soul mate, the physical desire is still very much present, regardless of whether they have been together a few years, several decades, or even completely absent from each other's lives. These writers certainly aren't afraid to remind readers that love and sex essentially go hand in hand between two men.

While marriage is a resounding theme, several stories occur either before, during or after an actual wedding ceremony. In "A Good Heart Is This Day Found" from Rhidian Brenig Jones, Iain and Christian have just said "I do" and are especially eager to escape the crowd and enjoy some private time. Plakcy's "A Riviera Wedding" introduces bodyguards and lovers, Aidan and Liam, who consider tying the knot after attending the wedding of their close friends, Louis and Hassan.

My favorite entry, "Wedding Day Jitters" by Rob Rosen, takes place the night before John and Peter's wedding, an adorable albeit nervously excited couple who decide to go for a late night jog and find creative ways to release tension at a children's playground.

Surprise proposals are aplenty, as well, most notably in Justin Josh's "Homecoming," where Scott returns from active military duty and is welcomed by a plus-size version of his other-half, Todd, whose chiseled, muscular physique is hidden under a fat suit. During a hike in the woods gone wrong, Rick asks Mason to marry him after they stumble upon a cavern seemingly by accident in D.K. Jernigan's "Into the Dark." Oleander Plume reminds us it is "Never Too Late," when the waned passion between long term couple Tony and Braiden is reignited after they make some significant and long overdue changes to their relationship.

As for those who have been married for a while (and together even longer), select authors remind us that there is still plenty of fun to be had after walking down the aisle. Shawn and Brian act out an anonymous encounter role-play fantasy in T.R. Verten's alluring "Strangers for the Night." A couple drives cross country for their five-year anniversary and makes the most of their pit stop at a diner's restroom in "The Road Trip" by Kitten Boheme, while Toby and Azzo invite a young waiter, Mike, to join them in the bedroom at "Table for Three" from Jameson Dash.

"Take This Man" is an engaging, amusing and provocative collection that entertains and arouses while renewing your faith in love and romance.

"Take This Man: Gay Romance Stories"
Edited by Neil Plakcy
Cleis Press
$16.95