Hero Worship Review

Hero Worship    

Author: Phoenix Emrys

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

American release date: June 8, 2014

Format/Genre/Length: Novel/M/M Contemporary Romance/213 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★ ★

High School can either make you or break you. Back in the day, Doug “King” Fisher was ruler of all he surveyed—the cock of the walk. White Knight par excellence, he led his band of faithful followers, the Knights of Right. Their mission was to protect the weak and downtrodden, to vanquish bullies. It’s 1975 and school has just ended. King is officially done with high school, having graduated. Time to go. When he hears the familiar sound of bullying, he cannot help but intervene, and protects a helpless young man with pretty blue eyes, by the name of Barry. Then he moves on, realizing to his chagrin that their paths shall never cross again.

Fast forward a few years. King is going on 57, and his life is not how he imagined it would be. Owner of a small shop that specializes in comic-cum-movie memorabilia, he barely ekes out a living. A far cry from the dreams he once had. He has one employee, a sassy sixteen-year-old named Jennifer. And he has a long-time crush on one-time TV action hero, Rex Rodman, who at one time had the hottest action show on TV. But that all changed when Rex derailed his career with a single announcement—admitting to something that King has never had the nerve to, although their secret is one and the same.

As King’s birthday approaches, he evaluates his life and finds it lacking. He spends more time with his mother than anyone else. And the big love he once dreamed of having has never materialized.

But something funny is going on, something is in the air. What it is, he can’t quite put his finger on. The question is—will it be a change for the better, or will a bad situation become worse?

I totally fell in love with this book from the beginning. I was originally attracted by it, when I saw the first promotion, for two reason. One—the hero is 57, same as me. And two, it’s about hero worship. Something I can relate to.

This is my first time reading this author, but it won’t be the last. She has an easy, humorous, witty style that simply flows. King is the narrator, and he is both funny and self-deprecating. I loved all the references to familiar shows and characters.

This story is a modern day version of It’s a Wonderful Life, and you’ll note that King’s former employer’s name is Bailey, although this story does not take place at Christmas, but in July. You can’t help but like King, and root for him to take a chance on love, and just be himself.

This is a definite feel-good story, one I know I’ll read again. If you’re looking for explicit sex scenes, don’t look here. Hot kisses? You’ll find them. And a wonderful romance.

I look forward to reading more by this author.