I was really happy to read again about Brandon and Jaden even if they where in the background. The main story topic is interesting and the idea for the twist is good, but the main couple "Dan and Ethan" just don't click. I didn't get the feeling for them, Dan was okay, but Ethan there is absolutly no connection toward him, he is just like a puppet in the play. I can say that I didn't really enjoy that book. Unexpected Guest is the sequel to Patient Eyes and unfortunately, I didn’t read Patient Eyes first. However, this book reads rather well as a stand-alone story and I didn’t feel lost at all as I read it.Dan Anderson is a recently divorced man in his early thirties, living in his childhood home, working on renovating it. When, via his new neighbors, Jayden and Brendan, he meets Ethan Marshall. Ethan, is a landscape architect who has a knack for creating new room layouts. The two men become fast friends and Ethan begins spending his evenings helping Dan with the remodeling of his kitchen and his nights eating dinner and watching baseball with him, before falling asleep in the guest room there. During this time, Dan and Ethan tip-toe around a real relationship, neither certain of the other's desires. It doesn’t help that Dan’s only previous relations with someone of the same sex was years ago, in high school, and that experience ended in heartache and humiliation for Dan.Eventually though, after two months of constant sexual tension between the men and frequent light touches from Ethan, Dan gives in and kisses him. From then on, they are inseparable, both in and out of bed. Until, Dan’s job sends him on a business trip to Boston. While there, he is sexually harassed by another man and debates with himself about whether or not he should say anything. If he does press the issue, it will mean outing himself to his colleagues. The thought of everyone knowing his sexuality is terrifying to Dan and he struggles with it frequently throughout the book. When his company sends him on a second trip to Boston and it happens once again, Dan knows that something needs to be said. This leads to the offender getting fired, but when Dan’s boss discovers his sexuality, his job is put in jeopardy and this time Dan has to decide if he’s going to fight against the discrimination.I enjoyed the love that was shown between the two protagonists in this story and I also enjoyed the strength depicted by Dan’s character. In real life, when I think of courageous individuals, generally those holding the position of a police officer, military member or firefighter come to mind and yes, those are people that do put themselves in harms way and sometimes for the sake of others and that is courageous. However, to put yourself out there, to know that there are those that may hate you, scorn you or pray for your soul, simply because you are homosexual, while it is very wrong, I think it takes bravery in its truest sense to be the type of person that accepts themselves enough and is confident enough in who they are and who they love to come out regardless. Coming out in many cases is a lifelong struggle and one that you can’t take back, can’t clock out of, call in sick for or take vacations from. Dan did that in this story, he came out knowing what the repercussions may be and reached a point where he didn’t care, where he knew what and who was really important to him.This was a pleasant story to read, one filled with romantic scenes, social triumphs and sweet friendships. It left me wanting to pick up the first book in the series soon.
What do You think about Unexpected Guest (2010)?
I loved this book so much I have read three times now...LOL. Looking forward to your next book.
—wes
A good, solid romance. Well developed characters, plausible situation. I liked it.
—JensNewton
