Title: Lust and Skin
Author: Jamie Lowe
Length: 10,000 words (39 pdf pages)
Publisher: Torquere Press
Genre: m/m contemporary
Rating: C-
Blurb:
Jeremy is no stranger to piercings, but the world of tattoos is all new to him. When sexy tattoo artist Dennis offers to give him his fist ink, Jeremy can’t decide if his lust is for the tattoo or for the guy willing to give it to him. Jeremy has to decide whether he trusts Dennis enough to let the man have a shot at leaving a permanent mark on his heart as well as on his skin.
Review:
It’s not great secret that I’m a fan of anything that involves tattoo artists, but I just couldn’t connect with these two guys as a couple. Jeremy is in for another piercing by his friend Chase, when tattoo artist Dennis comes into the area looking for gloves. Some sharp banter with Chase, a bit of one-upmanship about which is better, piercing or tattoos, ends with Dennis offering to give Jeremy a tattoo anytime.
Until that moment Jeremy hadn’t even considered a tattoo, but Dennis was super hot so… Okay, I get that hot guys (or girls) can make you do stupid things, but permanent ink? Maybe this was more my problem. Chase warns Jeremy off, saying that Dennis is kind of a dick, and that getting a tattoo just because you’re hot for the guy is a bad decision. I had to agree with the Chase. NOT a good reason to get ink. However a few days of thinking about it has Jeremy making the appointment, and pretty much giving Dennis free reign as to the tattoo of a skyline (the name of the shop).
Another issue I had, is they then proceed to have sex, in the cubicle with only a curtain dividing it from the rest of the tattoo/piercing parlour. Everyone had to have heard them, they weren’t silent, I can only imagine how awkward that was, and probably breaking a half-dozen health regulations that could have them closed down. I’ve taken my teenager to a tattoo parlour (I was getting an ear piercing), and I’d hate to think she would suddenly overhear two people having sex (of any variety and gender). Not cool.
So I think the combination of Jeremy’s decision to have a tattoo based on his sexual interest in the guy doing it (rather than a true desire to mark his skin), and their inappropriate place for sex, just left me doubting that this was much more than a lust-induced fascination which may quickly run its course. Others may not find the issues I mentioned off-putting. I know those are rather two of my bugaboos (inappropriate sex and making a decision based on lust rather than common sense), and I am but one reader. If you love the body mod vibe, you may want to pick this up anyway, but I just couldn’t really get into the way I’d hoped.
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