“He’s waiting for me to ask, and I’m afraid.”“I’m just one more gay guy here.”Moving to the suburbs of L.A. was supposed to give Nic Montero a fresh start. After escaping his family, coming out as a gay trans man, and excelling in computer programming out of desperation to get financially stable or die, everything should be easy. But joining gay culture now, post-transition, feels impossible… … culture now, post-transition, feels impossible… until he runs into the force of nature that is Kyle. Everything Nic isn’t, Kyle embodies. Green hair, garters and cut-off shorts, sports jerseys, and all, brash Kyle is the most gorgeous man he’s ever laid eyes on, and he pulls Nic headlong into the center of his world. If only Nic felt like enough for a man like Kyle.
“One-night stands are my only option.”
Loud, loving, and too much for most men to handle, Kyle Everett catches eyes and occasionally scorn… even at his job at the local HIV charity, Plus. His days and nights are spent at work, his precious spare moments spent with his son, Kevin, when it’s his turn to co-parent, or his best friend, drag queen River. He only has money or time for cheap flings, but the lanky otter who walks into his life makes Kyle want to hold him for longer than a night. He knows what it’s like for Nic to be without a family, but he isn’t brave enough to let this man into his life… until his charity is targeted by bigots, and Nic’s there for him.
“I’ll stay with you if you’re brave enough to be you.”
Nic spent his twenties avoiding family and even his own femininity, but his yearning is impossible to ignore. Kyle’s used to flying solo, but Nic offers him safety and fills gaps in his life he never realized existed and now can’t stand. Living in close proximity, they can’t run from their attraction, but they’re each used to being rejected, with the emotional scars to prove it. Can two men who feel like they’re not enough and too much find something just right?
Flaunt is a standalone gay romance novel with a happily ever after ending.
2017 Rainbow Awards Winner in Best Transgender Contemporary Romance & Finalist in Best Transgender Book!more
I was given a free audio copy from the author and the GRR arc team for review.
I loved this book so much. The 2 MCs are total opposites. Nic is a shy FTM trans man who is shy. Kyle is flashy and proud and likes to wear makeup and dress femme and considers himself gender fluid. He’s everything Nic wishes he could be. I loved both characters and tbought they were a great match. Kyle helps give Nic the little nudges and encouragement he needs to bring Nic out of his shyness and nervousness. They had amazing chemistry. Even though they start of as friends with bandits. Kyle stating he can’t do relationships after a bad past experience. They can’t resist the connection they have. This is a fun, sweet enjoyable read. The plot is interesting the whole way through with some drama thrown in and I couldn’t put it down. It was refreshing to see all the different topics discussed in this book that u don’t normally see elsewhere.
This book gives a lot of information/details on the transitioning process as Nic is in mid process, pre op. So some might find it to be too informative/educational for them. I found it to be very interesting. I was pleased that the author didn’t just have a post op trans person and push the subject aside as some books I have read have done. Even if you’re not into all the details don’t let that discourage u from reading. These 2 are so sweet together and the main drama/mystery plot is entertaining. It’s a great read.
The narrator did a fantastic job. He has a great voice and differentiated all the voices. Kept a good pace and gave a great performance displaying all the different emotions.
Audio review:
Overall – 5
Story – 5
Performance – 5
Really good trans romance story.
I really enjoyed listening to Joel Leslie perform this story. Joel is responsible for my audiobook addiction. I believed that audiobooks weren’t for me until I listened to him perform a historical gay romance – I was hooked!
Flaunt is probably the most detailed book I’ve ever read with a trans character and it seemed to be really well done to me. Nic and Kyle aren’t looking for a relationship so of course, that’s what they get. I really enjoyed listening to their journey to their HEA.
A complimentary copy of this audiobook was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author and/or narrator.
Nic a gay trans man and computer geek moved to La for a new start, and a new job.
Working for a large computer company his first assignment is at a gay HIV charity to sort out their IT needs.
Shy and uncertain of his identity still and having no friends made Nic a little uncertain of himself.
Kyle a complete force of nature, loud proud and def gay is Nics contact at the charity.
This is a really delightful book, you get a lot of drama, some gay hate, violence, hurt, comfort, love, confidence building, family, friends, seriously this book has everything including a HEA.
Loved listening to this on Audible plus I read it a good year ago. Great book. Narrated well by Joel Leslie.
Flaunt
F-Word, Book 1
By: E. Davies
Narrated by: Joel Leslie
Series: The F-Word, Book 1
Length: 7 hrs and 48 mins
Overall
Narration
Story
Read at 1.30 speed on Audible
I absolutely love this book!
I have read it at least three times already and every time I find it incredible.
Kyle and Nic are both wonderful characters, with some insecurities but also a great amount of strength and faith in themselves that enables them to develop a slow-but-steady-paced relationship.
I think Ed Davies manages to portray Nic being trans and Kyle being enby in a beautiful way, and I love how they find it in themselves and each other to go a step beyond and overcome their bits of fears to be together, unapologetically their true selves.
Flaunt is the first book in The F-Word series, a contemporary romance series. I really enjoyed this book; the characters, plot, and topics that Flaunt explored were fascinating, engaging and really enlightening. Plus, E. Davies is a fantastic writer who has a wonderful talent for crafting dynamic and unique characters. An interesting fact about this book is that it is an #OwnVoices book. One of the main characters is a trans male, and E. Davies, the author, is a trans male himself who has publicly documented his own experiences with his transition on his author Facebook page.
Nic is a trans man who is more used to being alone than hanging out with friends. Meeting Kyle changes his life. Kyle is fully and completely himself: he’s bright, joyful, and fashionable. He’s also a devoted father who coparents with his best friend and makes his child his priority. I really liked the family and friend dynamics of the book and how Kyle and Nic’s relationship fit within that dynamic. Both characters had huge baggage that they had to unpack together and confront. No matter how difficult it becomes, they both keep fighting for their relationship and moving forward to their happy ever after. The plot has a few slow points, but overall it had a nice pace and the prose is well written.
The audiobook was narrated by Joel Leslie who did a fantastic job. Joel was the perfect choice for this book because he really voiced the characters wonderfully. There were a lot of emotions in this book and Joel performed all these emotions with just the right amount of energy. Overall, the audiobook was well produced and it was a very enjoyable listening experience.
Freak
KU. DNF @ 37% ~ Maybe as a cishet female I’m not entitled to an opinion on this but I couldn’t finish this book. I’ve read 100s of M/M books, so it’s not like I have an issue with two dudes getting it on. However, a LOT of this felt very clinical and textbook to me, like someone was trying to do a “what it’s like to be trans info dump”. That took away from my ability to connect with the characters and become invested in the plot. It seemed semi-useful except that I looked up a few things trying to figure out how they worked and minimally the assertion that Nic could ejaculate is not possible.
Also, under WTF?!?!? ~ having unprotected sex with some one you JUST met while working for an LGBT health organization. Are you kidding me?
I mean, it wasn’t a 1 Star because the author can put together cohesive thoughts, spells correctly, etc. And allowing that maybe part of the problem was me… but I couldn’t finish.
What a story. I genuinely loved Kyle and Nic. Kyle is so flamboyant and outgoing. He won’t let anything dampen his spark. Nic is quiet, calm and collected. He’s reserved yet willing to step out of his comfort zone. It was beautiful watching these characters grow and unfold. Fantastic book.
I loved this book. Nic and Kyle are fun characters – funny, sweet, and sexy. the story was entertaining and well told. definitely recommend this book.
This is why I love this author. The characters are complex and well thought out. Kyle and Nic are a great couple. Both with a past they are learning to overcome. Nic learning to be true to himself was portrayed perfectly. Loved this book.