Spun (Shamwell Tales #4)

Title: Spun! (Shamwell Tales Book 4)
Author: JL Merrow
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Release Date: July 3, 2017
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance
Page Count: 316
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Read book blurb here

We last met fabulous and flamboyant 24-year-old David Greenlake (they used to call him "Camp David" at work) in Out! where and his teddy bear Gregory made a memorable appearance or two. Fired from his PA position in London, David arrives in Shamwell hoping his old boss Mark can provide work and/or lodging.

41-year-old Rory Deamer (a background character in previous books in the series, usually in the company of the very drunk very homophobic Barry) is a postman, divorced with two kids who primarily live with their mother. Rory is a salt-of-the-earth sweet man who looks after his neighbor and the older folks on his mail route, assuming anyone else would do the same. He loves his job ("As much fresh air and exercise as a man could want, walking around the best village in the world") and loves his kids ("He’d loved walking them home from school, stopping at the swings and popping into the baker’s shop to buy them doughnuts or gingerbread men and making them promise not to tell their mum").


At first glance, Rory and David seem unlikely flat mates, but they quickly bond over their shared lack of cooking skills (“Ooh, remind me to give you my mushroom soup pasta recipe.” David paused, a forkful of food halfway to his mouth. “Although actually, that’s it. Mushroom soup and pasta.”) and love of Doctor Who and Agent Carter. Rory and David's relationship is a very, very, very slow burn but it works as Rory ever so slowly begins to realize he's bisexual and sorts out his feelings:

It was like . . . like the time he’d let the lads talk him into going on that ginormous bloody roller coaster, when they’d had a Spartans trip down to Thorpe Park. Sitting in that carriage after they’d chugged up to the top thinking, Oh my God, what have I got myself into? His reflection grinned at him. That’d been bloody brilliant, that ride. And this would be too. Him and David.

The reason Spun! works so well, IMHO, is that it the most character-driven book of the series. Rory and David are such lovingly-drawn men who belong together, despite everyone else advising them against such a thing. David longs for someone who takes him as he is and Rory, bless, is that lucky soul. 4.5 stars.