Second Chances by T.A. Webb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Warning. You will need tissues when reading this book.

The book started off with a death. The death of a much loved mother. Immediately we see a man vulnerable, hurting, especially because he has to deal with this alone.

The main story arc focussed at the beginning around forgiving a lover who had cheated and was given a second chance, but that theme echoed in a number of ways through the other relationships with family and friends.

Mark (and possibly the author) is a man for whom loyalty is probably a stronger tie than love. The loyalty of dogs is an absolute, loyalty of people is more difficult as each character brings their own baggage and pasts into account.

There were a number of times even interactions with other family members were transformed. Yes, we can all act as assholes at times, but is one comment, one action sufficient to cut off all ties whether they be family, friends or lovers?

Time was an important aspect of the book. Dates were used to signify substantial shifts forward. On occasions this got disconcerting, and you had to pay attention, but as the years progressed, we saw how time itself allowed people these second chances.

Was the character Mark blind not to see how his friend, Antonio, felt?

Perhaps. But the point of this book is that people can change. Feelings can change. Yes, in some ways the wrap up is story-book convenient, especially the money angle, but I was more interested in the build up to this, and the longer time frame made this change realistic. It wasn't an overnight waking up and saying, "Hey, I'm gay." More it was coming to terms, honestly, with who you are.

This is one book where I didn't mind getting to know the family. Warts and all. Being in first person, we see them only through the eyes of the narrator and this is fair.

I loved the political incorrectness of the book. Yeah, he swears. Yeah, he allows his inner bitch to surface at times. Yeah, he's a gay man. Are the three necessarily connected? Not always, but in this case the narrator felt real to me.

Mark wore his heart on his sleeve as the author probably does in real life. Yeah, he ranted and raved on a couple of occasions, but that was when people hurt those he loved. He's a bear roaring his willingness to defend defenceless people.

Bullies need that. Just as kids can gang up on a child who doesn't fit in at school, siblings and their spouses and cohorts can do the same when they unite against a brother if they don't approve of him.

Yet, over time, even they gave him and were given a second chance, albeit grudgingly and suspiciously. Only time would determine whether this change of heart was real.

Because he used his own work situation and experiences so much, the world felt vividly real. I appreciated the time spent detailing his job, the issues he faced, the system he had to work in, the restrictions that were placed on what he could and couldn't do. The way even touching a child in his care was no longer allowed, despite the fact that would be exactly what they needed.

If all you're looking for in a book is character A meets character B, they fall in love, have some difficulties but end up happy ever after, then you won't appreciate all the aspects of this book. It's a story about life as much as it is about love, about giving both second chances.


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Butterfly Hunter by Julie Bozza
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The way I discovered this book and Julie Bozza was eerily like the protagonists discovered the butterflies. I certainly didn't go looking. After hearing about the writer through convoluted means, I trusted my instincts rather than logic and followed a cloud of 5 star ratings that barely showed up against the plethora of five star ratings that stretch from horizon to horizon of the reading world. And I'm so glad I did.

Perhaps it was the shimmer that made her story show up, the unusual cover in a trope that depends on sex to sell.

There was sex, but it was very much the fade to black variety even if they do get to second base or even third base at times.

If I have a criticism of the book it is that at a couple of points during the sex scenes there was a gap that made me skip back a page because I thought I'd flipped over one too many. Is actual penetration that hard to include? Perhaps some nitty gritty real sex might have stolen some of the light hearted feel away but then again perhaps it could have grounded the story a bit more and made it more real. A sentence would have done me.

As an Aussie, I can vouch for the setting's authenticity. The attraction of the Australian outback is not easy to see. In the heat of the day, it's hot. Bloody hot. Shirts cling to your back from the sweat. Flies try to crawl into your nose, eyes and mouth seeking moisture. Ants are literally everywhere. Probably a good reason to sleep up on top of the Land Cruiser. Sometimes it's so hot even the birds are silent. That's when the insects start making a racket. Most city dwellers see the Australian outback as a harsh place and rarely venture out there which is a pity, because it is beautiful, and in certain lights, it's magic.

The trouble is you have to be there to experience it. Julie gives us a picture of the overwhelming magnificence of the southern skies. But I love the time just before dawn when there is an expectant hush in the air. I've only ever experienced the same thing when a baby budgie was hatching and its parents and siblings all grew quiet (a rare state in that breed) while tiny tapping sounds could be heard as the baby bird broke through the shell. It's the same in the bush. Everything goes quiet. The wind drops, the birds are silent and then the sun pokes its head above the horizon. Later, the heat of the day sucks all the energy out of the landscape, but the early morning light caresses the bush, making it unforgettable.



There is no lush grass, no soft colors, the ground is hard and unforgiving until you find a waterhole.




The wattle is our national symbol, but it can take on many forms.


As m/m writers go, Julie has come the closest so far to capturing this unique setting.

As someone whose father and sister were entomologists and actually worked for the organisations briefly mentioned, it gave me an eerie feeling of being right there.

Hunting butterflies isn't hunting Tasmanan tigers or even kangaroos. There's no guns, no villains, no drama just a gentle unfolding of the story. In fact, the analogy of their life spans, their metamorphosis into something beautiful mirrors Dave's change perfectly.

Tough macho Aussie males brought up far away from gay culture would seek the protection and company of a girl who was a mate. Uncomplicated. Unthreatening. They wouldn't even be aware they were doing it. They would assume that what they had was a normal boy/girl relationship. I found that part of the story totally believable.

I also thought the way the author handled aboriginal culture was appropriate in the circumstances and wasn't condescending in any way. Not every Australian takes the time or has the interest in accepting that relationship to the land, but for those who do, there's this special way of looking at things. Outsiders may not "get it" or they may see it as appropriating their culture, but in fact not "getting it" and ignoring that aspect is more disrespectful.

It is probably best if you read the story when you are in the right mood for it. It certainly made a welcome change for me.


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