Lorenzo il Magnifico [Kindle Edition]

It was amusing and slightly surreal to read a story of this sort set in Italy, my native country; one gets so used to fantasy, S/F or period settings that it is almost shocking to read a sort of erotica-in-your-backyard book. A very realistic Italy too, dirty and messy, complete with Vespas, Alfas, dangerous drivers and obnoxious dog poops. Some details were not quite believable, like the perfectly punctual train, but I am a forgiving creature and will let that pass.

I really enjoyed the style of this book, quite a lot grittier than most romance I ever read, and almost harsh in places, but in a very engaging way. There is a wicked sense of humour (more of it in the next book, please!), there is a bit of a creepy thriller, heroes are mortal men, beautifully flawed and realistically shy of their own tenderness, and whether or not you appreciate the pitilessly honest urban setting, and somehow unromantic characters, you cannot fail to be involved in Luke's doubts, fears and eventual happiness. So, yes, very nice, although I would have cut the plot by a half and doubled the naughty (very tasty) bits. What can I say. I am just smutty like that.
:)

Luke is a young Englishman with a boring life he hates working in a Leeds call center. At the start of “Lorenzo il Magnifico” he is escaping this life for a week in one of his favorite cities, Florence, where he plans to get it on with lots of hot Italian guys as well as make a start on his masters degree, which he hopes will help him to get a job in a gallery or museum.

On his first night in Florence, Luke meets Lorenzo, a waiter – and as it turns out, the owner – at a nearby restaurant. What starts out as a vacation fling quickly turns more serious, and Luke is suddenly faced with making choices that will change his life.

From the official blurb on Amazon, you might expect this book to be something of a sexcapade. However, it’s more of a romance, with less sex than you might be expecting. Still, it’s a very light tale and told rather well. The author has a nice descriptive style which is rich yet very readable. However, one minor thing that got rather annoying is the over-use of brand names: “Ray Bans” instead of “sunglasses”, “CKs” instead of “underwear” or some other word. It gives the text a rather cliquish feel.

Of course, this isn't intended to be great literature. It’s a nice little romp that will provide you with a few nights – at most – diversion.

For the longest time... okay, for the last couple of years, I've wanted to read a romance written by a male. Lorenzo il Magnifico gave me that opportunity. It's one of those books which hit me on a psychological level.

It was interesting to find the main character in the book had a lot of the same insecurities I have going into new relationships. Luke offered a sort of rawness he shared with the reader, and it made him a character I could relate to... understand and appreciate.

One of the things I loved about Lorenzo il Magnifico is the vulnerability a lot of women miss when writing from the male perspective shows up in this book. Society says men are supposed to be butch and stoic. :) I've been married (add some dating years in) long enough to know the stoic shell hides a lot. It was nice getting into Luke's mind and see he was just... well, human, rather than the unemotional brute I see so often in romances.

So we had a bit of gay love happening. :) What did you expect from a gay romance? It actually reminded me a lot of Queer as Folk. When Luke wanted sex, he simply went to the place were the guys were and got it on. He didn't have to play games or pretend he was not into.

And it made me wonder, what would life be like if women didn't have to play the chaste games... if women weren't called sluts for seeking sex when they wanted. After all most people enjoy sex (men and women alike). Yet women have to put up the appearances that they're not that interested in order for society to view their behaviors as acceptable. I have to say... for straight guys so eager to get it on, they're really screwing themselves over with the name calling. :)

Despite the stigma still surrounding being gay, it seems very liberating to do away with the sex games heterosexual couples play and just do. I liked that about Lorenzo il Magnifico.

I received this work from the author in exchange for a review.