Review: Refraction by Jodi Payne and BA Tortuga

Title: Refraction

Series: Collaborations: Book One

Authors: Jodi Payne and BA Tortuga

Length: 260 Pages

Category: Contemporary

At a Glance: All in all, I thought this first-time collaboration by BA Tortuga and Jodi Payne was very interesting. Together they created two characters in Tucker and Calvin who were very opposite, so they have to find a way to compromise, understand and trust each other.

Reviewed By: Maryann

Blurb: Texas artist Tucker Williams arrives in New York City for a gallery showing of his work and finds the city blanketed in snow. He meets free-spirited underwear model Calvin McIntire on the steps of the Midtown library and is captivated by a wild beauty that manages to compete with the demons that occupy his soul and fuel his work with their lust for blood and erotic imagery.

Unable to deny a new inspiration, Tucker sublets a studio and finds the city’s energy almost as addictive as Calvin.

Tucker is obsessive, barely holding on to sanity as his art consumes him, and Calvin is dealing with demons of his own, trying desperately to protect his soul in a business where only his appearance has value. They each prove to be the perfect remedy for the other’s personal brand of crazy until, in the midst of stress and exhaustion, they discover that a promise Calvin needs is the one thing Tucker can’t give him, and their heaven turns to purgatory.

Can both men find a path toward wholeness in Tucker’s beautiful but chaotic Texas home? In order for them—and their passionate relationship—to thrive, they’ll need to adapt, share their psychoses, and find a true balance between New York City and rural Texas.

Review: Tucker Williams is just looking for a cup of coffee. He’s an artist from Texas who finds himself in snowy New York City, and lucky for him, Calvin McIntire happens by and offers to guide Tucker to a coffee shop.

Calvin is a model, and he and Tucker get to share what keeps them busy. Tucker finds it hard to resist the enthusiastic Calvin, and they immediately hit it off, from coffee to a snowball fight, then dinner, and things heat up quickly. Calvin and Tucker are smitten with each other, but as they spend more time together, Calvin ponders when Tucker will go back to Texas.

Tucker invites Calvin to his art exhibit, where he meets Marge, Tucker’s agent and longtime friend. Tucker likes his solitude and would rather not be at the exhibit, but Calvin loves the excitement and gives Tucker something to look forward to. But no matter how Calvin feels about Tucker, Calvin is frightened and disturbed by what Tucker produces on canvas. With Tucker getting his own studio apartment in New York, Calvin gets to see Tucker lost in his world of artistic expression. As much as Tucker tries to resist, he finds himself painting portraits of Calvin, and the fallout leads to a heart-wrenching argument.

Tucker does go back home to Texas, but he’s not happy and has to fight his demons, while Calvin’s modeling drags him into a downward spiral. Can that one little mysterious gray painting give hope to Calvin and Tucker?

All in all, I thought this first-time collaboration by BA Tortuga and Jodi Payne was very interesting. I saw a lot of BA Tortuga’s influence in Tucker Williams’ character. I hate to say, I’ve only read one book by Jodi Payne, so my belief is that Calvin McIntire was more in her realm. Together they created two characters in Tucker and Calvin who were very opposite, so they have to find a way to compromise, understand and trust each other.

Most of the storyline deals with Tucker’s and Calvin’s parental situations, their growing relationship and their lives. There’s also a mysticism to Tucker, to his art and his demons, but it seems Calvin has his own form of demons too, and I thought the distinction was very clear. As a secondary character, I liked Marge; she was a good support for both Tucker and Calvin.

You can buy Refraction here:
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