Review - Candyman (Something New on the Menu)

Alain Roux has just lost his beloved father, who ran a world famous candy company in Chicago. Alain is very much a spoiled rich kid, but he’s just short of an entitled brat. It was his father’s wish that Alain take over the running of the company. Even though he doesn’t have much interest in business, Alain still wants to make his father proud, and show up his homophobic uncle Jakob.

Ty Washington is a poor, young African American man going to school part time and working in the candy factory to earn money after his father threw him out for being gay. He has had a hard time accepting his sexuality, and an even harder time getting his old friends to accept who he is.

When Alain spots Ty on the factory floor, it’s lust at first sight for both men, but can they overcome the differences in their backgrounds, as well as the fact they’re employee and employer to find something deeper?

If you’ve read any of the other books in this series, then you know what to expect: Something like a soap opera. Lots of drama, but not much depth, all wrapped up in a sugary sweet coating. There’s nothing wrong with that, so just sit back and enjoy the ride in this extremely fast paced romance. If you have read one of the previous stories, then you know nothing is really going to get in the way of our two young heroes. Yes, there will be the occasional doubts and misunderstandings, but even uncle Jakob proves to be more bark than bite.

The speed with which the relationship develops is so fast it really does stretch credulity, but it doesn’t quite go over the line. It’s possible that some may find it a bit too much. There is a lot of dialog about being out and proud. It’s in context of Alain trying to convince Ty to loosen up, so it’s not out of place, but it did come off a bit preachy. It also contrasts sharply with Alain’s own behavior around his uncle. Most of the time he is cool and collected, but around Jakob he turns into a screaming drama queen.

All these are minor quibbles. This isn’t meant to be great fiction, but just a quick bite of something sweet, and at that it does rather well.

“Candyman” may be purchased from Amazon.