Review: Pumpkin Rolls and Porn Sounds by Kris T. Bethke

Title: Pumpkin Rolls and Porn Sounds

Author: Kris T. Bethke

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Pages/Word Count: 52 Pages

At a Glance: Although I am not at all a fan of anything pumpkin in real life, I am definitely a fan of this story.

Reviewed By: Janet

Blurb: Will Grant only attends the PFLAG meeting because his mother guilts him into it. But the instant he hears the night’s speaker, Will is glad he showed up. Joshua Rhinehardt is dynamic and engaging. Although Joshua isn’t physically Will’s type, Will can’t get the man out of his head.

Joshua may be comfortable in his own skin, but it isn’t often men like Will are attracted to him, and he’s not comfortable changing for someone else. He wants to make a life with Will, but his own insecurities keep getting in the way.

Will’s unwavering acceptance helps Joshua see that when two people connect, physical appearance just might not matter at all.

Review: What a great title! This is a debut novella so I really had no idea what to expect when I opened this book, but the title grabbed my attention, so I was intrigued right away.

The first pages hooked me; great contrast between the characters – a bear and a twink – but both very confident gay men, with strong family support. Will’s parents are delightfully meddlesome and maneuver an introduction between them. What follows is a humorous and sweet story of building a relationship. Jason is reluctant to trust Will’s desire for him, and Will is almost as surprised to feel the attraction. There is conflict here, but it is not nasty or angry; it is the conflict of opposites and learning to appreciate the differences between each other, and trusting in the feelings of the other person.

I was pleased with the pace of the story – Jason’s insecurities are not instantly appeased – and the timeline of attraction, lust and love felt appropriate to the characters’ development. This story is told from Will’s point-of-view, and the author used this effectively to show the differences between Jason’s laid back style and Will’s much more fussy behavior without creating unnecessary drama, which I appreciated greatly. Bethke shows great world building skills, especially for a new author; each step of the story is housed in a realistic background that resonated well and was an easy part of the narrative that flowed smoothly throughout the book.

Although I am not at all a fan of anything pumpkin in real life, I am definitely a fan of this story. Kris T. Bethke’s voice is solid, and I am looking forward to reading more from her. If you are looking for a fun, spicy and slightly sweet story, with vibrant, real characters, then Pumpkin Rolls and Porn Sounds is definitely for you. It was a real pleasure to read.

You can buy Pumpkin Rolls and Porn Sounds here: