Date of Publication: December 10, 2012
Genre and Themes: LGBTQ, Contemporary, Family, Racism, Xenophobia
Format: 210 pages, ebook
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
ISBN: 9781623802332
Cover Artist: L.C. Chase
Characters: Sayen Homet, Cameron Campbell
Everyone needs a little help now and then. For gay Muslim Sayen Homet, that help first came from his understanding mother, who brought him to America from the Middle East. Now that he’s working his way through Stanford Medical School, his help comes from a secret sugar daddy. But Sayen might be able to end their arrangement soon now that he has a boyfriend he can depend on, A student Campbell Reardon. Campbell is more than willing to support Sayen, even if it means coming out to his conservative family.
But when Campbell takes Sayen home to meet his parents, everything falls apart. Campbell doesn’t realize how his boyfriend pays for school… and neither of them knows Sayen’s sugar daddy is Campbell’s father, Blake.
While everyone involved struggles to overcome their shock, it becomes obvious Blake will do anything to keep Sayen. Campbell and Sayen love each other, but in the face of so much hurt and betrayal, love might not be enough to hold them together.
The unapologetic writing style of Alan Chin is one of the things I loved about him. He won’t try to sugarcoat an event or a scene involving his characters. I liked the grittiness of the words used here, which some readers may find revolting but somehow worked. Admittedly, the whole mixed-up of religion, race, soap opera-ish twists was a bit too much for me here. I didn’t really like Sayen’s character because he’s obviously a first-class user or as my sister told me bluntly, he’s basically a prostitute masquerading with his sob story. I don’t agree much with her but like what I’ve said, I never felt an affinity towards his character. I didn’t like how he keeps on using his past to excuse what he’s doing which ultimately cost him Cameron. I also didn’t think that he really loved Cameron more than Cameron’s dad. I didn’t see the difference much. The ending was a bit disconcerting for me because there was already a gap between them and it still ended that way.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
About The Author
Alan Chin was born in Ogden, Utah, where he was christened, Alan Lewis Hurlburt. He was raised in San Jose, California where he enjoyed an undistinguished childhood. After graduating high school, Alan served four years in the U.S. Navy where he learned and practiced the trade of aircraft mechanic while stationed at the naval air station in Kingsville, Texas.
Alan attended four years of night school at San Francisco State University, studying the field of Data Processing. Afterwards he enjoyed a twenty year career working his way from computer programmer, to software engineer, to network designer, and finally to manager of several software engineer development groups.
In 1991, while still working full time, Alan went back to night school and years later graduated from the University of San Francisco with a BS in Economics and a Masters in Creative Writing.
In 1999, Alan retired from his career in Information Technology to devote more time to his three hobbies: writing, traveling, and tennis. During that same timeframe, Alan legally changed his name to Alan Chin, so that he could share the same family name as his life partner, Herman Chin.
Alan turned serious about his writing in 2003, and began working on his first novel, Island Song. He has now published two novel with Zumaya Publications – Island Song and The Lonely War. He is currently searching for a publisher fr his 3rd novel, while writing a 4th novel and two screenplays.
Alan currently lives and writes half of each year at his home in San Rafael, California, and he spends the other half of each year traveling the globe.
You can learn more about Alan Chin and his writing at:http://AlanChinWriter.blogspot.com or about his travels at his travel blog:http://HermanAndAlan.blogspot.com
PADDYLAST INC. 