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Claire Thompson
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Handyman (Unexpected Love) Kindle Edition

by Claire Thompson (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 234 ratings

What can a hotshot Wall Street trader and a simple handyman possibly have in common?

Jack Crawford, a recently widowed handyman, has never defined himself as gay. But an erotic encounter years before left Jack with a wealth of deep sexual dreams and longings that have remained secret, until now.

Careful to keep his heart out of the equation, Will Spencer uses and discards lovers as easily as he trades stocks. He is used to taking what—and who—he wants. Until now...

In an unlikely pairing, Will and Jack explore an incendiary relationship, sometimes humorous, sometimes heartbreaking, always erotic. Each man must find his courage, one to bring the dreams of his heart to life, the other to determine whether he is truly able to entrust his heart to another.

Warning: Hot, delicious male/male erotic romance.

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  1. Part of series
    Unexpected Love
  2. Print length
    240 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    November 3, 2015
  5. File size
    7.4 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0169DPQFA
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Romance Unbound Publishing (November 3, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 3, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 7.4 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 234 ratings

About the author

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Claire Thompson

Claire Thompson

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Claire Thompson has published over 85 novels dealing with the power and passion of BDSM and erotic romance. Claire's work includes the sensual exploration of D/s as well as the darker side of BDSM. Do you love romantic BDSM? Crave something darker from time to time? Claire has also written extensively in the M/M BDSM and M/M Romance categories. To get a taste of her work, click here for FREE NOVELLAS by Claire Thompson: https://clairethompson.net

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
234 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy this romance book for its hot scenes and well-developed characters. Moreover, the writing quality receives positive feedback, with one customer noting the stellar editing and proofreading. Additionally, customers appreciate the book's sweetness and emotional depth, with one review highlighting how it emotionally connects readers.

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28 customers mention "Romance"25 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the romance in the book, particularly the hotly described sex scenes, with one customer noting the nice bit of drama and erotica.

"...is sensual and explosive and delightful...." Read more

"...the romance between the younger and older gay man, this is a nice little story...." Read more

"...Sweet romantic story about two people finding love and making a brave new life they want instead of just accepting like martyrs." Read more

"...This is a great coming out story - although widower Jack isn't in the closet parse as much as just figuring out who he is after a 20+ year marriage..." Read more

24 customers mention "Readability"24 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining and awesome to read, with one customer mentioning they enjoyed it cover to cover.

"...an occasional hot sex scene thrown in here and there, this is a lovely read." Read more

"...(You'll love it; I promise) PS--Almost a perfect book when it come to consideration of the grammatical / typographical error side of..." Read more

"...because we have such wonderful character developments it was an enjoyable read." Read more

"...That is so far from the truth; this book is so much more. It is a story of two men fighting years of conditioning in order to love one another...." Read more

18 customers mention "Writing quality"17 positive1 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, finding it well-written and easy to read, with one customer noting the stellar editing and proofreading, while another appreciates how the unexpected elements are described.

"...way in which Jack slowly opens up to Will's hints and advances is beautifully done...." Read more

"...I loved the manner of describing the unexpected (maybe not) results of a deep massage. -..." Read more

"...The characters are well-developed and give the reader a very good view of both men's perspectives...." Read more

"...This story is told in a very realistic way as the men seem to take two steps forward and one step back while struggling with their feelings and..." Read more

11 customers mention "Character development"11 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book.

"...But I must say, I loved the characters so much that after a few chapters, I happily allowed myself to dismiss any misgivings about the story..." Read more

"...On the whole it is predictable, but because we have such wonderful character developments it was an enjoyable read." Read more

"...to find 'Handyman' This is such a great book.. I loved the characters/ character development and the story line.. my only complaint was that the..." Read more

"...I`m a sucker for renos! * Jack`s character is very down to earth and I loved his honest responses to Will`s initial flirting. *..." Read more

7 customers mention "Sweetness"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book beautifully sweet, with one customer particularly appreciating its quaint setting and another noting its cute age-difference theme.

"A cute age-difference, straight-to-gay trope set in lower Westchester County...." Read more

"...for Jack that leads them to some tense moments but in my opinion beautifully sweet and tender moments - it is one of the best budding romance..." Read more

"...What an incredibly sweet and innocent love story...." Read more

"...What worked for me: * Loved the quaint setting...most of the beginning of the novel takes place in Will`s fixer-upper in Scarsdale...." Read more

5 customers mention "Emotional content"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the emotional depth of the book, with one mentioning how the relationships between characters develop throughout the story.

"...Thompson writes her men as caring and thoughtful friends who explore a budding relationship...." Read more

"...them to some tense moments but in my opinion beautifully sweet and tender moments - it is one of the best budding romance relationship stories I..." Read more

"...The author did an excellent job of emotionally connecting the reader to the characters' insecurities, relationship dynamic and love...." Read more

"...and lack substance, however, I found this novel to have character and heart. I couldn't put the book down and finished it in a few hours...." Read more

4 customers mention "Heat level"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the heat level of the book, with one mentioning its steamy chemistry and hot scenes.

"...Oh and so I don't mislead this book is also HOT HOT HOT -..." Read more

"...Lots of surprises. Enjoyed the way relationships developed. Some hot scenes as well! You're sure to enjoy it." Read more

"Well after reading the book,which I found very hot............." Read more

"...Enjoyed all the tenderness and the steamy chemistry. Good writing. Thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to others by this author." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Charly T. Anchor
    5.0 out of 5 stars A slow, sweet seduction
    Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.

    Rating: 9/10

    PROS:
    - The way in which Jack slowly opens up to Will's hints and advances is beautifully done. I know a man who didn't face his homosexuality until he was in his 50s whose awakening proceeded in almost exactly the same way as Jack's does in this book.
    - Good examination of the internal uncertainty on the part of both characters; Will thinks Jack will decide he's straight (or at least that he doesn't want to explore whether or not he's really gay), and Jack thinks that Will's just looking for another notch on his belt. Of course, we readers have the benefit of witnessing their blossoming I-don't-trust-this-but-I-can't-help-falling-for-him-anyway feelings also.
    - The buildup of feelings and desire on the way to the characters' first sexual encounter is very well done. Each scene is a bit more erotic and a bit less tentative than the last. And I LOVE how patient Will is with Jack's hesitance and inexperience.
    - The sex, when we finally get to it (not a complaint; I love the slow speed at which physical intimacy escalates), is sensual and explosive and delightful. And there's a kissing scene that's almost as hot as any of the sex scenes.
    - Jack's sons are realistically portrayed and add a nice amount of gravity.
    - Far fewer typos and editing issues in this than in many other m/m books I've read.

    CON:
    - Premise that's a stretch to believe. The difference in age is significant--14 years--as is the difference in lifestyle, education, and emotional background. But I must say, I loved the characters so much that after a few chapters, I happily allowed myself to dismiss any misgivings about the story idea.

    Overall comments: If you're looking for erotica, this might not be a good choice for you; there's sexual tension throughout the book, but it doesn't really contain that much sex (as compared to most other m/m romances I've read). But if you enjoy reading about the emotional connection between two men with an occasional hot sex scene thrown in here and there, this is a lovely read.
    19 people found this helpful
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  • JUST A REVIEWER2
    4.0 out of 5 stars WOW!! Gives us proof successful Gay Conversion Therapy is possible.........
    Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    ........The most convincing gay "conversion" story I've ever read. And I say to some of you misguided behavioral experts out there, if you truly believe such "therapy" programs successful, then you've yet to run into the talents of one Claire Thompson. Here she give us a work which incontrovertibly shows that there is no such thing as "de-gaying"---that what we have, instead, is a case of "re-gaying" (which can be an always-possible process---one even approved by Mother Nature). As proof of her expertise in this area, Thompson gives us a heretofore unknown and unprepossessing individual by the name of Jack Crawford. Yes, indeedy, and in no more than 200 pages, she goes on to prove the whackos wrong. Claire accomplishes that by simply saying: here, dear readers, is the story of someone whose "gayness" has been sidetracked by exigent events......as it were. (And remember, Folks, it is not what we assume to be "just love" which is the be-all and end-all......rather it is the "most emotionally intense and devoted love" which becomes that "all").

    ((Here is my approach to obtaining/reading/reviewing Gay romance tales in book form. Simply, it's seeking the holy grail of that genre---the "Addictive Read"). Selection of read materials is based mainly on purchase of new stories by favorite authors or on comments / reviews by you in these online "Book" pages. Sometimes I feel correctly steered by you (the "Keepers" filling my shelves), other times badly mislead (the "Throwaways"). Rarely, I come across the "Addictive," those I can reread a few times yearly (see below starred *** area for a list). For some reads, I'll share comments with you, as follows. Thanks for sticking with me so far.))

    At this point in the review, I'd like to get out of the way a bit of a negative comment about the manner in which this author approaches some of the more "romantic" spots in her plot. In this regard I do have to say that Dear Claire has a way of kinda "throwing the switch" on us. Examples:

    - First time (on Page 57), right at "that moment we all wait for"......right on the precipice of a first physical act between our two leads, Thompson cuts away to a childhood memory of a first kiss.....a boy / girl kiss at that. How mean, Claire! (altho had to laugh just a little).

    - But wait. Relieved that this little tale of remembrance is over---and excited that the physical act can now continue---we are, again, brought to an abrupt halt by our gay lead's launching into philosophical thought as to whether his making the next and logical move would be accepted / rebuffed. Now, I say Ms. Authoress, you really are being mean! Oh, I know, I know......you'll retort that the smart thing to do is to draw it all out. Okay, but shortly after conceding you this point, you do it again, when the guys begin opening up to each other about their feelings. Then, whoa, at this critical juncture you have one of the two start recalling (in his mind) a past relationship and the kind of behavior it involved.

    - F-i-n-a-l-l-y, thinking we are at last moving on.......oops, here it comes again---this time involving thoughts about a former college friend. At least in this instance, the recalled-guy (Bryan) is given short shrift. (Oh, and I just have to add here: "To hell with the telescope getting dewy wet; there are more important things for these guys to do!").

    Still and all, after everything's said and done (and to conclude this line of thought about the author's both weird and disruptive "memory flashes"), I do have to acknowledge there is absolutely no doubt that she then reaches the point in this work where she SOARS! As in "it" at last begins "to happen" between our lovely couple (how can any reader remain upset with someone who at last begins to give what has really been so badly wanted?).

    Now, for some remaining "here-and-there thoughts" about other aspects of the storyline:

    - There is a lot about this writing which comes across as, to use the above mentioned word, philosophical in nature (this ia a good thing). In other words it's not just about two guys slamming into each other.

    - I loved the manner of describing the unexpected (maybe not) results of a deep massage.

    - Possibly there were a few too many reflections / rethinkings of "did I do right by Emma" (readers will learn who that is).

    - Lines one wishes had never bean (I mean been) written: These involve a short section, later on in the plot, detailing one character's reaction to the "unexpected" appearance in his partner's life of someone near and dear. To this reader, the thoughts described as making up the reaction were so out of character for the individual we'd been led to know, that the whole scene became jarring and disruptive. (So there. Take that, Ms. T.)

    - Until near 2/3 the way through this work, I was afeard I'd have to subtract one additional rating Star for this author's failure to introduce another significant character or two. I consider it to be the height of writer laziness for an author to keep us concentrated, through an entire book, solely on a lead gay couple and their myriad ways of "going at each other." The addition of family members and/or friends of one or both main characters is a sure-fire way of giving we readers more useful information as to just what kind of "character" our lead characters possess. While Thompson did not provide as much of this type insight as have others, she did make the effort. (If you want to see some more concrete evidence of what I'm talking about here, take a read of some of the "Addictives" listed below).

    - In this work, I think Thompson came up with, and introduced to us, a special "Something" (a finding) that many other authors have never discovered when exploring their characters. (More importantly, I think it is a "Something" many of we readers have never discovered in and about our own personal lives). What that is is all laid out on Page 147, where she has the lead character telling us: "It was the emotional connection. That's what was different" (he meaning what was different from his earlier, married relationship). And then, quite specifically, she has him adding in explanation: ".....it was the emotional "intenseness" of this new relationship that was different." So, this reviewer thinks he's saying that while, yes, there had definitely been emotional---as well as physical---love in his married life, that love unknowingly at the time had lacked the "intenseness" he was now finding in his new M/M relationship. Wrapping up this comment, this reader most definitely agrees with what the character and Ms. Thompson are saying: our true sexuality is reflected in who we react to on the most intense emotional levels.......be they a male or a female. So how say you, readers out there, which other romantic fiction writer has explained the basis for a couple's connection (or their sexuality) so well? I know of none. Therefore, I hereby propose that any History of Annals attributed to the likes of Freud, Jung and Kinsey now make way to include those from someone with the name of Thompson.

    Lastly......finally......the end: While likely the most thoughtfully (and perhaps logically) written "Been straight all my life......Never realized who I really was" book I've read to date (and C. T. should receive every "Best Gay Book of the Year" award out there), I do have to plug here a little, no less exceptional book, titled "Faith & Fidelity" by Tere Michaels. (You'll love it; I promise)

    PS--Almost a perfect book when it come to consideration of the grammatical / typographical error side of things (only a missing closing quotation mark.....a misspelled word or two.....and very little else). Congratulations, Samhain Publishing.

    ((This book will take a place very near my "Addictive" shelf. ***Some reads which are "Addictive" for me: "Caught Running" (Urban & Roux) // "Crossing Borders" (Z. A. Maxfield) // "Freshman Pledge: The Magic of Love" (Larry Coles) // "Diplomacy" (Zahra Owens // ))
    One person found this helpful
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  • Jane
    3.0 out of 5 stars Predictable...but nice little m/m romance
    Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    For those who enjoy the angst, the interaction, the romance between the younger and older gay man, this is a nice little story.

    The characters are well-developed and give the reader a very good view of both men's perspectives.

    I always like when one of the partners is not experienced and in this case, a virgin. It's always a nice little bit of drama and erotica.

    On the whole it is predictable, but because we have such wonderful character developments it was an enjoyable read.
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  • Riva
    5.0 out of 5 stars More than than the cover protrays
    Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Audiobook Review:

    I really enjoyed this listen. First let me say I have to disagree with the title and cover of this book. When I first saw it, it looked like it was a "porn without plot" about getting it on with the handyman. That is so far from the truth; this book is so much more. It is a story of two men fighting years of conditioning in order to love one another. One has major commitment issues and is only comfortable with random, nameless hook ups. The other was deep, deep in the closet without even knowing it and was married for over 20 year. The marriage was tragic and passionless, but he stuck with it because of his sense of obligation. This story is told in a very realistic way as the men seem to take two steps forward and one step back while struggling with their feelings and family. The only small criticism is I think the "L" word may have been said a bit soon. But it didn't really take away any of the enjoyment of the book. It had a great pace and the writing was beautiful. The narrator did a good job, especially with the couple of accents the story required. I wish he had distinguished the two MCs voices a bit more, but I think he got the emotions of the men correct. I think this should have been called something like "From there to Here"
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Mr Anthony Richards
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent buy
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 5, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I truly enjoyed this book, I read it in three days it was that interesting. I would recommend this to anyone.
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  • Kathy Kozakewich
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love is more than gender
    Reviewed in Canada on October 8, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    HANDYMAN is one of those books that comes out of nowhere, takes a hold of your imagination and heart and won't let go until you're done... if even then.

    Will and Jack are, on the surface, very different. Will Spencer's taking a 6 month sabbatical from his job as a trader for an investment bank ~ having your boss drop dead in front of you can do that to a man who is following in his footsteps. He's moved to the suburbs and bought himself a beautiful old house that needs a lot of work.
    Enter Jack Crawford, owner of 'Affordable Improvements' and recommended handyman.
    Everything about them seems to be at opposite ends of the scale; Will is a 30 year old from the big city, used to fast living, partying hard, white collar career, workaholic tendencies and gay man. Jack is in his mid-forties from a small town, father of two grown sons, widower and works with his hands and... straight?

    As we watch a friendship develop between these two men, what first becomes apparent is that both are experiencing an attraction to the other. For Will that's not a complete surprise, but the depth of his interest in Jack is. For Jack, he's in over his head... but memories of an incident in his teen years have come back to haunt him and it doesn't matter how much he thinks, his attraction to Will is there and growing.
    This is a story of friendship that develops between two different, but essentially lonely men. Men who have spent their lives, in one way or another, keeping a part of themselves apart from everyone around them. Men who find someone whose presence in their lives answers a need long neglected and ignored. Men who are faced with the one person that will end their loneliness.
    Most of all this is a romance, solid, loving and inspiring. Yes it's between two men, but truly, love is without gender and so discover Will and Jack.
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  • EVC
    4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable, angst-filled, occasionally too trite
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 10, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I just finished this book last night, and overall it was an enjoyable, slow-burning read, but it was not without its faults.
    I tend to go for brasher, more sex-heavy erotica (hey, I know what I like!), and "Handyman" took a while for me to properly sink my teeth into. Part of this, for me, had to do with the feeling that the characters spoke too much at length, in ways that I didn't find realistic (too many overly descriptive monologues to each other). However, I found it easier to read the more the book went along, and the pace picked up in the latter half. Certainly by the last third of the book, I was glad I'd stuck with it.
    The plot of a widower handyman and an overactive, high-stress business sort seems like an easy kink story, but it was very emotionally developed here. Perhaps too much: the angst was filled out, but some of the sex didn't ring true to me, or put me off (but that's a matter of taste - everyone has different turn-off words). Here again, though, some of it was tied into "telling" too much. One of the characters says outright "Is it time? Are you ready yet to receive me?" I can't help but wonder who genuinely asks a thing like that, at least in that way....Still, I could really get a sense from those scenes that contained sex what the act meant for these two men.
    The author switches back and forth regularly between the main characters and their confused, passionate, sometimes even annoyed feelings for each other. Their exploration of each other is, as I said before, slow-burning and methodical, with setbacks happening along the way.
    There were parts of the book that, for me, tiptoed too close along the edge of cliche. (Off the top of my head, it made me wince a little when one character actually said aloud, in a moment of romantic anguish, "What have I done?") It's a fine line with this genre, because I understand that readers want certain expectations to be filled - and I'm guilty as charged, as a regular reader of it myself!
    Overall, as I've said already, I enjoyed "Handyman." The author knew her characters well, and it shines through in the novel. I will be checking out other books by this author, as this was my first by her and I'm curious to see what else she's written.
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  • Not A Number
    3.0 out of 5 stars Love is easy when you dodge the clichés
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 18, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    A nice safe romance, that teases with the usual star crossed lover tropes but refreshingly avoids the usual angsty fallout by having protagonists who actually have some common sense.

    There isn't any great depth to this, but a recommended bit of "comfort reading".
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  • Annette
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 30, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Really nice and sweet book
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